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PLACITA  ANGLO-NORM ANNICA : 

LAW    CASES 
FKOM  WILLIAM  I.  TO  RICHARD  I. 

PRESERVED  IN  HISTORICAL  RECORDS. 


MELVILLE  MADISON  BIGELOW, 

AUTHOR    OF    "A    TBEATISE    ON    THE    LAW    OF    ESTOPPEL,"    "LEADING    CASES    ON 
TORTS,    WITH    HISTORICAL    NOTES,"  ETC. 


Jjos'ton : 

LITTLE,  BKOWN,  AND  COMPANY. 

1879. 


COPYRIGHT,  I-::'.  BY. 
MELVILLE   MADISON    BIGELOW. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  investigation,  several  years  ago,  of  the  English 
forms  of  action  in  tort  from  the  time  of  Bracton,  for 
the  writer's  Leading-  Cases  on  Torts,  the  importance  of 
a  careful  study  of  the  litigation,  and  especially  of  the 
writs,  of  the  Norman  and  sub-Norman  time  became  very 
manifest;  and  the  determination  was  then  made  to 
thoroughly  explore  the  records  of  the  age.  The  first- 
fruits  of  the  undertaking  are  now  offered  to  the  student. 

The  present  volume  embraces  substantially  all  the 
recorded  temporal,  and  a  few  ecclesiastical,  litigations  of 
the  great  period  which  begins  with  the  Norman  Conquest 
and  ends  with  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Richard  I. 
A  few  cases  of  the  first  half  of  Richard's  reign  are  given, 
so  as  to  make  connexion  with  the  Rotuli  Curiae  Regis, 
which  begin  with  the  sixth  year  of  that  reign,  and  thus 
to  complete  the  series  of  English  Law  Reports  from  the 
time  of  the  Conquest.  The  volume  is  not  a  selection  of 
cases,  but  contains  all  of  a  temporal  nature  that  are 
of  value  in  the  known  legal  monuments  of  the  period. 
A  few  cases  have,  indeed,  been  omitted;  but  only  be- 
cause they  were  either  clearly  the  spurious  records  of 
later  times,  or  were  manifestly  incomplete. 

Of  the  first  class  are  the  litigations  narrated  in  the 
false  Ingulfs  Chronicle  of  Crowland ;    and  the  editor 


IV  PRE]  \<  I  . 

may  be  thought  to  have  erred  in  not  excluding  the  ease 
of  Edwin  v.  William,  p.  1,  as  properly  coming  within 
this  class.  See  1  Brady,  History  of  England,  12,  270; 
1  Ellis,  Tntrod.  to  Doomsday,  56,  57  (ed.  IS.0).'1)).  But 
without  relying  npon  the  entire  faithfulness  of  the 
record  of  the  case,  or  upon  the  fact  that  it  has  been 
treated  as  a  genuine  monument  by  Spelman,  Coke,  Dus1- 
dale,  and  Wilkins,  it  was  thought  best  to  print  it.  The 
account  presents  a  typical  view  of  the  new  procedure  in 
England,  and  this  directly,  as  it  professes,  after  the 
establishment  of  the  Norman  power.  The  plaintiff  offers 
proof  of  his  claim  in  the  common  formula, "as  the  king 
may  direct ;"  and  the  king  directs  an  inquisition, — the 
procedure  which  he  had  just  brought  from  the  Continent. 
And  with  regard  to  the  claim  itself,  it  is  in  perfect 
keeping  with  the  policy  of  the  Conqueror  to  conciliate 
and  protect  such  as  had  not  taken  up  arms  against  him, 
and  were  not  likely  to  be  dangerous  subjects.  To  this 
extent  the  record  may  be  trusted,  whatever  the  truth 
may  be  as  to  the  time  when  it  was  made  up,  or  as  to 
the  parties  who  figure  in  it.  For  no  other  purpose  is  it 
introduced  in  this  book. 

Two  difficulties  arise  with  regard  to  the  case  in  other 
aspects.  The  record  states  that  the  king  issued  a  general 
writ  in  favour  of  all  who,  like  Edwin-,  had  maintained 
neutrality  in  the  contest  with  Harold,  commanding  that 
their  lands  should  be  restored  to  them  if  wrongfully 
held, "  and  that  they  should  thereafter  be  called  Drengs." 
If  this  was  intended  to  suggest  the  origin  of  dreng 
service,  it  is  not  entitled  to  credit.  This  species  of 
allodial  tenure,  for  such  it  appears  to  have  been,  was 
ol  Danish-Norse  origin,  and  even  in  England  probably 
antedated    the    Conquest.     Professor   Stubbs   quotes   a 


PREFACE.  V 

passage  from  Elton's  Tenures  of  Kent,  pp.  68,  6d,  to 
that  effect.  "  Quia  vero  non  erant  aclinic  tempore  regis 
Willelmi  [primi]  milites  in  Anglia,  sed  threnges,  prse- 
cepit  rex  ut  de  eis  milites  fierent  ad  terram  defenden- 
dam."     1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  262,  note. 

Nor  is  it  true  that  all  or  any  considerable  part  of 
those  who  had  stood  aloof  from  the  war  became  drengs. 
There  are  very  few  references  in  Doomsday — not  half  a 
dozen — to  dreng  service ;  and  what  is  quite  to  the  point, 
no  drengs  are  mentioned  in  any  of  the  various  references 
to  Sharnburn,  the  seat  of  Edwin  and  his  associates. 
However,  this  fact  does  not  tell  generally  against  the 
record  in  question,  since  in  a  subsequent  part  of  it,  not 
used  in  this  book,  it  is  stated  that  the  king's  writ  was  not 
obeyed  by  the  defendants.  Indeed,  it  is  not  impossible 
that  the  author  of  the  Sharnburn  record  merely  mistook 
the  purport  of  the  writ  of  execution  in  the  case,  and  that 
this  simply  directed  that  Edwin  and  his  associates 
should  receive  their  lands  again  and  hold  them  as  dreng 
tenants. 

Brady,  however,  has  another  objection  to  the  case,  and 
finding  it  in  the  way  of  one  of  his  arguments,  as  he 
mistakenly  supposes,  hotly  rejects  it  altogether.  After 
palpably  misrepresenting  Camden  as  denying  its  genuine- 
ness (Britannia,  p.  480,  ed.  1637),  he  assigns  as  his  own 
reason  for  rejecting  the  document  the  fact  that  no  such 
name  as  Edwin  or  William,  the  butler,  occurs  in  Dooms- 
day for  Norfolk.  But  the  case  in  question  is  represented 
to  have  occurred  directly  after  the  Conquest,  that  is, 
nearly  twenty  years  before  the  making  of  the  great 
survey ;  and  the  MS.  expressly  states  that  Edwin  died 
in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  apparently  before  the 
survey.     One  of  the  chief  parties  to  the  litigation,  the 


VI  PREFAI  E. 

great  earl,  William  de  Warrena,  does,  moreover,  appear 
in  Doomsday  as  holding  land  in  Sharnburn.  Vol.  ii. 
p.  1G7.  However,  the  student  is  now  sufficiently  put 
upon  his  caution  concerning-  the  case ;  and  after  this, 
the  editor  is  quite  willing  to  let  the  record  stand  in  his 
book,  as  a  late  account  of  some  early  case. 

The  writs  of  Tewksbury  Abbey,  2  Monasticon,  07-83 
(ed.  1846),  are  an  example  of  the  other  class  of  omitted 
cases  above  referred  to.  Very  few  of  these,  however, 
would  be  of  special  value,  even  if  perfect.  They  are  all 
fairly  represented  by  other  writs  here  given.  To  this 
class  belong  also  cases  dismissed  with  a  mere  statement 
of  sentence  or  judgment  pronounced  or  executed  ;  as  in 
the  well-known  instance  of  the  hanging  of  forty-four 
thieves  by  Ralph  Basset,  referred  to  in  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Chronicle,  anno  1124. 

But  the  editor  has  endeavoured  to  make  a  complete 
collection  of  records  of  litigation  only  ;  the  book  is  in  no 
sense  intended  as  a  Codex  Diplomaticus,  and  all  charters 
and  documents  not  relating  to  litigation  have  been 
excluded.  Many  of  the  extracts  from  Doomsday  can 
hardly,  perhaps,  be  termed  "cases,"  but  all  of  those 
presented  illustrate  some  phase  of  the  procedure  or  sub- 
stantive law  of  the  period;  and  this  fact  is  deemed 
sufficient  justification  for  publishing  them.  Tn  the 
Appendix  will  be  found  all  the  rest  of  the  disputed  claims 
reported  in  Doomsday,  so  far  as  they  bear  upon  the 
history  of  law  or  litigation.  Considerable  portions  of 
two  very  lengthy  cases,  together  with  several  writs  and 
records  of  some  legal  interest,  are  also  given  in  the 
Appendix;  and  to  these  is  added,  for  the  purpose  of 
ready  comparison  with  writs  of  the  text,  a  selection  of 
writs  from  Glanvill. 


PRKFACE.  V11 

The  present  work  is  intended  to  aid.  the  student  in 
investigating  a  department  of  legal  history,  and  not  to 
teach  t  he  history  of  persons  or  of  general  events.  Hence 
the  absence  of  notes  concerning-  such  matters.  It  is  a 
book  of  Law  Reports,  and  edited  accordingly;  with  sueh 
departure  only  as  the  nature  of  the  work  has  made  neces- 
sary or  advisable.  Hence  an  Index  of  Cases  is  given, 
instead  of  an  Index  of  Names  ;  and  the  names  of  parties 
appear,  with  their  peeuliarities  and  variations,  as  they 
stand  in  the  original  records. 

It  is  proper  to  observe  in  this  connexion  that  the 
greatest  care  has  been  taken  to  reproduce  the  original 
text  literally,  even  to  punctuation.  This  will  explain 
the  apparent  lack  of  uniformity  of  print  in  this  respect. 
The  only  liberty  taken  has  been  to  adopt  a  uniform  style 
of  capitalizing,  and  to  substitute  the  letter  "  v "  for 
the  letter  "  u "  in  such  words  as  "  uero  "  and  "  cla- 
mauit." 

It  has  not  been  deemed  best  to  i.dd  to  the  expense  of 
the  book  by  translating  the  text.  The  Latin  is  not 
difficult  enough  to  deter  any  one  from  using  the  book 
who  can  use  it  to  good  effect.  The  head-notes  will  sexwe 
as  an  outline  to  the  cases ;  and  a  glossary  has  been 
added  of  such  Anglo-Saxon  and  non-classical  Latin 
terms  as  may  need  explanation. 

For  special  features  of  legal  interest  attaching  to  the 
cases,  the  student  is  referred  to  the  Introduction.  It  should, 
however,  be  stated  that  this  is  only  a  fragment,  and 
that  the  subject  of  the  procedure  of  the  period,  with  its 
incidents,  is  mainly  reserved  for  more  extended  exami- 
nation than  would  be  proper  in  an  Introduction.  The 
writer  hopes   to  give  to  the  printer,  in  the  course  of  the 


vm  PREFACE. 

coming  year,  the  further  results  of  liis  investigation  in 
this  department,  in  the  form  of  a  History  of  the  Anglo- 
Norman  Procedure. 

The  editor  is  unwilling  to  close  his  work  without  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  aid  and  encouragement  of  friends, 
both  in  his  own  country  and  in  England.  The  assistance 
and  offers  of  assistance  received  in  London  and  Oxford 
during  the  last  summer  deserve  particular  mention. 
.Memory  will  not  fail  of  kindness  shown  at  the  latter 
place.  To  complete  the  work  at  the  venerable  seat  of 
not  a  little  of  the  litigation  which  had  been  the  subject 
of  protracted  study  had  been  a  cherished  purpose  j  and 
it  was  most  agreeably  accomplished. 

Boston,  Mmsach. usetts, 
Bee.  1,  1878. 


NOTE. 

On  p  52,  last  line  of  2nd  paragraph,  for  "vovissimam"  read  "novis- 

eimam." 
On  p.  71,  last  line,  dele  "Pref." 
On  p.  84,  dele  title  "  Ecclesiastical." 

On  p.  123,  7th  line  from  bottom,  after  "  putabant  "  add  "  [sic]." 
On  p.  131,  3rd  line  from  bottom,  for  "invenire"  read  "  inveniii." 
On  p.  135,  last  line,  for  "1115"  read  "1117." 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  statement  not  infrequently  made,  or  fairly  implied, 
that  the  common  law  of  England  is  largely  of  German 
origin,1  must  not  be  understood  in  the  extensive  sense  in 
which  the  English  language  is  truly  said  to  be  Teu- 
tonic.2 Every  page  of  our  literature  bears  the  stamp  of 
early  German  origin ;  or  rather  every  page  of  it  is  still 
German, — the  German  of  Alfred  and  the  Chronicle. 
The  great  body  of  the  common  law,  however,  is  essen- 
tially different  from  the  common  law  of  King  Alfred's 
time.  A  few  scattered  remains,  such  as  the  right  of 
distraint,  and  the  right  of  entry  to  abate  a  nuisance,  or 
of  a  disseisee  upon  a  trespasser,  and  the  limited  right  of 
recaption,  with  here  and  there  a  little  of  the  ancient 
colouring,  alone  reach  back  in  unchanged  lines  to  find 
their  origin  in  the  primitive  times  of  the  Germanic  or 
Anglo-Saxon  procedure. 

Instead  of  characterizing  the  present  law,  as  German 
does  the  language  of  England,  German  law  is  only  one 

1  See  Holtzendorff's  Encyc.  248  (Leipsic,  1877),  article  by  Brunner. 

2  When  Professor  Stubbs  says  that  "  the  common  law  of  a  nation 
is  even  more  certainly  than  its  language  a  determining  evidence  of 
its  extraction,"  he  is  doubtless  to  be  understood  as  referring  to  an 
early  state  in  the  nation's  history;  and  this,  indeed,  was  the  fact 
under  notice,  calling  forth  the  broad  remark.     1  Const.  Hist.  48. 


X  [NTltODl  i  TION. 

of  very  many  elements  in  it,  and  not  a  conspicuous 
one.  It  does  not  lie  upon  the  surface:  it  must  be  dili- 
gently sought  out,  if  its  presence  would  be  discovered. 
Indeed,  nearly  all  thai  was  typical  of  ancient  German 
law  has  entirely  disappeared.  The  ordeal,  the  duel, 
compurgation,  and  wergelds,  have  all  gone;  while  the 
.Ureal  and  essential  feature  of  the  right  of  self-redress 
has  so  far  given  way  that  no  statement  is  more  common 
in  the  law-books  of  to-day  than  that  no  one  has  the 
right  to  take  the  law  into  his  own  hands.1  And  what 
remains  is  obscured  by  the  presence'  of  vastly  more  ex- 
tensive elements.  Feudalism,  distinct  from  what  would 
have  resulted  from  the  relation  of  lord  and  man  among 
the  Anglo-Saxons,  the  Roman  law,  commerce,  invention, 
art,  and  a  thousand  potent  influences  of  modern  civili- 
zation, have  added  their  vast  contributions  to  the  English 
law,  and  made  it  mainly  what  it  is,  pushing  far  into 
the  background  the  ancient  German  element/  The 
existing  law,  whether  of  contracts,  torts,  real  property, 
equity,  or  even  of  crimes,  disconnected  from  intermediate 
stages  in  history,  would  fail,  in  its  characteristic  parts, 
to  reveal  "the  very  form  and  features"3  of  ancient  Ger- 
man law, —  Salic,  Saxon,  or  Anglo  Saxon.  Nor  do  the 
old  codes  of  the  German  nations  contain  the  "promise 
and  potency"  of  the  present  common  law  of  England. 
What  would  have  been   the  natural  ami  probable  result 


'   A  statement)  however,  t<>  be  received  with  some  qualification. 
2  It  is  hardly  accessary  t<>  say  that,  in  speaking  of  the  ancient 
German  and  the   present    English  law,  we  refer  towhai   is  typical 
only.     The  fundamental  principles  of  law,  or  rather  o  nch, 

in  i"  pay  liis  debts, and  i"  make  compen- 
i   I'm-  his  torts,  have,  of  course,  existed  in  everj    stage  of  Die 
i\  of  I  In   race. 
Bei    I   Reevi      1 1 1- -i    Engli  b  La  a  .  53  1 1  ml.  ed.). 


INTHODI'CTION.  M 

of  the  growth  of  the  Ante-Norman  Germanic  law  in 
England,  could  it  have  been  left  to  develope  itself  upon 
internal  influences  alone,  wholly  apart  from  contact  from 
without,  it  is  impossible  to  say;  but  it  could  not  have 
resulted  in  the  common  law  and  procedure  of  the  nine- 
teenth century. 

It  is  true  that  the  external  influences  which  have 
affected  the  English  law  have  been  largely,  though  by 
no  means  wholly,  German  ;  but  the  most  potent  by  far  of 
all  external  Germanic  influences,  the  Norman,  had  itself 
been  modified,  to  a  considerable  extent,  by  non-German 
or  (so  to  speak)  broken-German  law.  The  pure  German 
law  of  the  Anglo-Saxons  received  in  fact  a  fatal  blow 
at  the  hands  of  the  Normans. 

There  are  plain  indications  that  the  law  of  Normandy 
was  not  wholly  free  from  the  influence  of  the  semi-Roman 
law  and  civilization  of  the  South  of  France.  The  stimu- 
lating influence  of  the  better  institutions  of  the  South 
had  powerfully  affected  all  the  Continental  German 
nations:  primitive  institutions  passed  by  steady  tran- 
sition into  new  forms,  and  new  institutions  arose  by  the 
side  of  the  old.  The  Normans  in  France  ceased  to  he 
Northmen,  and  became  almost  as  far  separated  from  the 
Anglo-Danes  as  from  the  Anglo-Saxons ;  and  the 
Norman  Conquest  became  the  turning-point  in  the 
history  of  Germanic  institutions  in  England.  German 
law,  now  shaken,  tottered  to  its  fall. 

If,  however,  instead  of  looking  for  salient  features  of 
German  law  in  the  body  of  the  present  law  of  England, 
we  pursue  the  course  of  the  common  law  back  through 
the  centuries,  we  shall  be  able  to  discern  more  and 
more  of  the  old  Germanic  element ;  and  long  before  we 
reach  the  Anglo-Saxon  period,  the  origin  of  the  whole 


Xll  [NTRODUCTION. 

law  will  be  manifest  from  internal  evidence.  When 
we  reach  the  twelfth  century,  or  even  the  first  half  of 
the  thirteenth,  the  English  law  is  manifestly  German, 
presenting  at  first  almost  as  strange  an  appearance,  as 
compared  with  the  existing  law,  as  does  the  law  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  codes.  But  examined  more  closely,  the 
features,  dimly  outlined,  of  much  that  is  typical  of 
modern  law  appear.  The  tenth  and  the  nineteenth  cen- 
turies are  each  discernible.  This  is  the  transition  period, 
in  which  new  elements,  blending  with  the  old,  give 
promise  of  the  later  times. 

This  period  of  transition  begins  with  the  advent  of 
Norman  notions  into  England  and  ends  with  the  reign 
of  Edward  the  First ;  and  the  first  two-thirds  of  this 
period  are  the  time  covered  by  the  present  work. 

The  best  illustration  of  the  transition  state  of  the 
Norman  and  sub-Norman  time  is  to  be  found  in  the 
legal  procedure  of  the  period.  The  typical  procedure  of 
the  Anglo-Saxons,  the  ordeal,  is  joined  by  the  typical 
procedure  of  the  Normans,  the  duel,  and  lingers  on  and 
finally,  in   the  thirteenth  century,  dies  out1  beside  it  ; 

1  The  edict  of  the  Lateran  Council,  anno  1215,  appears  not  to  have 
wholly  extinguished  the  ordeal  in  England.  See  note,  infra,  p.  xvii. 
There  is  no  mention  of  trial  b}r  battle  in  any  of  the  Anglo-Saxon 
codes  ;  but  it  is  scarcely  more  difficult  to  account  for  that  fact  upon 
the  supposition  that  it  did  exist  in  England  before  the  Conquest, 
than  to  account  for  its  presumed  non-existence.  What  prevented 
its  appearance,  or  caused  its  early  disappearance,  in  England  alone  ? 
Trial  by  combat  certainly  did  prevail,  in  the  feuds  among  the  Anglo- 
Saxons,  but  whether  jud/icial  combat  existed  is  very  doubtful.  The 
line  between  the  two  is  difficult  to  draw,  especially  in  the  earlier 
limes  ;  for  judicial  combat  was  only  a  regulation  of  the  blood-feud, 
surrounding  it  with  religious  sanctions  and  ceremonies.  In  the 
Norse  Olaf-Tryggvasonar-Saga,  il  is  said  that  it  was  the  custom  in 
England  to  settle  disputes  between  two  persons  by  battle.  "  Enn 
thai-  var  sidr  :i  Knglandi,  ef  ii.  keptoz  urn  einn  hit,  at  thar  skylldi 
koma  til  h<5hn-ganga."     And  an  account  of  a  combat  between  Olaf 


INTRODUCTION.  xili 

while  the  newly  introduced  procedure  of  the  inquisition, 
soon  developing-  into  the  possessory  and  petitory  actions 
of  real  property  law,  and  at  the  same  time  revealing  the 
very  features  of  the  jury  system,  advances  steadily  to 
commanding-  influence  and  to  permanent  place.  Beside 
the  old  purely  verbal  procedure,  the  Norman  procedure 
by  writ  has  taken  firm  root,  and  forms  of  action  begin 
to  appear,  though  as  yet  failing  to  give  promise  of  the 
subtleties  and  conflicts  of  their  later  stage. 

All  the  forms  of  proof  in  use  among  the  Anglo- 
Saxons — by  ordeal,  oath  (compurgation,  afterwards 
called  wager  of  lawr),  witnesses  and  charters, — continued 
throughout  the  Norman  and  sub-Norman  period. 

The  indications  above  suggested  of  the  decline  within 
the  period  of  this  book  of  the  ordeal  (or  judgment  by  hot 
iron,  hot  or  cold  water,  or  the  morsel,  also  commonly 
called  "judicium  Dei")  are  entirely  negative.  Nothing 
is  directly  stated  in  the  chronicles  or  laws  of  the  time  to 
show  the  gradual  transformation  and  decay  of  the  typical 
procedure  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  period.  But  the  absence 
of  it  in  the  civil  litigation  of  the  later  Norman  and 
Angevin  time  becomes  very  marked  and  suggestive. 
In  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  the  evidences  of  its  fre- 
quent use  in  civil  as  well  as  in  criminal  cases  are  clear 
and  convincing,  both  among  the  English  and  also  among 
the  Normans ;  though  with  the  latter  it  had  been  re- 
garded in  Normandy  with  less  favour  than  the  duel,  as 
was  still  the  case  in  England.' 

and  an  Englishman,  in  England,  follows,  anno  993.  But  it  was  not 
a  case  of  judicial  combat;  and  it  probably  occurred  in  the  Danish 
district.     See  Johnston's  Antiquitates  Celto-Scandicse,  p.  74. 

1  The  great  number  of  cases  of  the  ordeal  in  Doomsday — the 
favourite  English  procedure — is  not  unworthy  of  consideration  in 
discussing  the  extent  of  the  Conqueror's  confiscaiiniis. 


XIV  [NTRODUCTION. 

Iii  the  time  of  William  I.,  Bishop  Etemigius,  a  Norman, 
clears  himself  from  a  charge  of  treason  by  the  ordeal  of 
fire,  undergone  by  one  of  his  household,  p.  30.  The 
ordeal  appears  again  in  the  ease  of  Bishop  Gundulf  v. 
Pichot,p.  34.  In  the  case  of  Bishop  Wulfstan  v.  Abbot 
Walter,  p.  16,  the  record  states  that  men  of  St  Mary  and 
of  the  bishop  were  ready  to  prove  by  oath  and  battle  the 
case  of  the  plaintiff;  and  it  closes  with  an  oiler  by  men 
of  holy  orders,  priests  and  deacons,  to  prove,  "judicio 
Dei,"  the  concord  agreed  upon. 

When,  however,  we  reach  the  record  of  Doomsday,  the 
evidences  of  the  use  of  the  ordeal  as  well  as  the  duel 
multiply.  The  ordeal  alone  is  offered  in  three  cases 
relating  to  Lands  of  Earl  Ralph,  pp.  40,  41  ;  also  in 
two  cases  of  Lands  of  Earl  Alan,  pp.  41,  43;  in  the 
case  of  the  Church  and  Land  in  Greston,  p.  41 ;  in  the 
case  of  Lands  of  William  of  Warren,  p.  42  ;  in  the  ease 
of  A  Certain  freeman,  p.  43;  and  in  other  cases  <jiven 
in  the  Appendix  C.  Proof  by  oath  or  battle  is  offered 
in  the  case  of  Lands  of  Hugh  de  Port,  p.  38  ;  ordeal  or 
battle  (the  duel)  is  offered  in  eases  given  on  pp,  41,  1:2, 
43,  and  61;  and  proof  "omni  lege,"  or  "omnibus  legU 
bus,"  which  would  include  oath,  ordeal,  or  battle,  is 
proffered  in  two  eases  on  p.  44. 

In  the  reign  of  Rufus,  we  find  William  de  On.  p.  69, 
tried  by  battle  upon  a  charge  of  treason,  and  bitty  Men, 
p.  7:1,  purging  themselves  by  the  ordeal  of  iron  of  the 
charge  of  unlawfully  taking  the  king's  stags. 

In  the  31s1  year  of  Henry  1.,  we  find  Robert  Fitz- 
gerard,  p.  Ml,  paying  into  the  king's  treasury  two 
ounces  of  gold  lor  the  privilege  of  recovering  his  lands 
•  per  corpus  suum  ;" — not.  it  should  be  observed,  lor  the 
privilege  of  that  mode  of  proof,  but    for   the   right  of 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

proving  his  title,  thai  is,  for  the  purchase  of  his  writ. 
In  the  same  year  Matthew  do  Vernon,  p.  142,  pays  a 
hundred  measures  of  wine  for  the  concord  of  a  duel. 

In  this  reign  of  Henry  I.,  there  is  an  absence  in  the 
cases  of  any  allusion  to  the  ordeal.  It  would,  how- 
ever, he  unsafe  to  rely  upon  that  fact,  even  if  there 
were  no  satisfactory  evidence  upon  the  point.  A  legal 
institution  so  deeply  seated  would  not  at  once  disappear 
without  prohibitive  legislation,  of  which  as  yet  there 
was  none  relating  to  the  ordeal;  nor  indeed  was  there 
ever  any  such  legislation  in  England.1  But  the  so- 
called  Laws  of  Henry  I.,  a  private  collection  of  laws 
and  customs  made  just  before  or  at  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  II.,  expressly  affirm  the  continued 
existence  of  the  ordeal.2  For  instances  of  the  duel  about 
the  same  time  see  the  case  of  The  Hordarer  of  Win- 
chester v.  Abbot  Ingulf,  p.  1 82,  and  the  case  of  Henry 
of  Essex,  p.  210. 

The  statement  just  made  concerning  the  time  when  the 
Laws  of  Henry  I.  were  collected,  shows  that  the  ordeal 
was  far  from  obsolete  at  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
Henry  II.  The  Assize  of  Clarendon  shows  how  firm  its 
hold  was  in  criminal  cases  in  1166  ;3  and  specific  evi- 
dence of  its  actual  use  about  the  year  1 175  is  furnished 
in  the  Exchequer  return  of  Robert  de  Luci,  p.  272,  and 
in  1177  by  the  case  of  John  Senex,  p.  227.  See  also  the 
case  of  Gilbert  de  Plumpton,  p.  229,  anno  1184,  in  which 

1  The  ordeal  was  abolished  throughout  Christendom  by  the  Lateran 
Council  in  November,  1215.  See  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  019.  The 
duel  lingered  on,  and  was  only  abolished  in  1819,  though  it  had  long 
before  become  practically  obsolete. 

a  C.  62,  §  1  ;  c.  65,  §  3  ;  c.  67,  §  1 ;  c.  75,  §  6 ;  c.  SO,  §  7 ;  all  being 
cases  of  homicide  or  I  heft. 

a  See  1  PalgravOj  Commonwealth,  257—259. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

the  defendant,  appealed  by  the  celebrated  Glanvill  of 
carrying  off  and  marrying  a  young  heiress  in  the  gift 
of  the  king,  denies  the  charge  "  modis  omnibus," 
which  probably  still  meant  the  ordeal,  the  duel,  and  the 
oath. 

This  carries  us  to  the  time  of  Glanvill  de  Legibus  ; 
and  in  this  there  are  several  references  to  the  ordeal.  In 
liber  It,  which  relates  entirely  to  crimes  as  then  under- 
stood, the  author,  at  the  close  of  cap.  i.,  speaking  of  per- 
sons accused  of  plotting  the  death  of  the  king  or  of 
raising  sedition  in  the  kingdom  or  in  the  army,  says  such 
are  usually  tried  by  battle  ("tunc  per  duellum  solet 
placitum  terminari") .  But,  he  adds,  a  person  thus  accused 
may  refuse  the  battle  if  sixty  years  of  age,  or  if  he  has 
suffered  mayhem,  in  the  breaking  of  a  bone  or  a  wound 
on  the  head.  And  in  such  a  case,  "  tenetur  se  purgare 
is  qui  accusatur  per  Dei  judicium,  scilicet  per  calidum 
ferrum  vel  per  aquam  per  diversitate  conditionis  homi- 
num ;  scilicet  per  ferrum  calidum,  si  fuerit  homo  liber; 
per  aquam,  si  fuerit  rusticus." 

In  the  next  chapter,  which  relates  to  the  concealment 
of  treasure  trove,  Glanvill  says  that  it  is  not  usual  for 
one  accused  merely  by  the  public  voice  (ob  infamiam)  to 
go  to  the  ordeal.  According  to  the  Assize  of  Clarendon 
(at/no  1166),  a  person  found  in  possession  of  goods 
stolen  or  taken  by  robbery  was  not  permitted  to  wage 
his  law,  if  he  bore  a  bad  name.  And  though  not  accused 
by  the  public  voice,  he  must  still  purge  himself  by  water, 
because  of  his  possession.1  Possession  of  the  goods 
was  therefore  equivalent  to  the  special  presentment 
provided  for  in  the  Assize  of  Northampton  {anno  117(5) 
"per  sacramentum  duodecim  liberorum  legalium  homi- 

i  Ai    ize  of  Clarendon,  c.  1-  ;  Sfcubbs's  Seleci  Charters,  1  l  I. 


INTRODUCTION.  3CV11 

num  ct  per  sacramentum  quatuor  hominum  de  unaqna- 
que  villa  hundredi."  ' 

Glanvill  proceeds  to  s;iv,  with  regard  to  concealment 
of  treasure  trove,  that  if  the  party  lias  been  convicted, 
presumption  making  against  him,  he  can  still  purge 
himself  by  the  ordeal.  The  conviction  here  referred  to, 
it  is  proper  to  observe,  is  in  reality  the  conviction  only 
of  a  grand  jury  ;  and  the  ordeal  supplies  the  place  of 
what,  after  the  Lateran  Council  of  1215,  superseded  ii, — 
the  trial  before  a  petit  jury.2 

The  next  instance  of  the  ordeal  mentioned  by  Glan- 
vill is  in  the  case  of  an  accusation  by  a  woman  against 
a  man  of  a  battery  committed  upon  her,  and  also  per- 
haps of  the  homicide  of  her  husband.  The  crimes  of 
arson  and  robbery  are  passed  over  with  the  remark  that 
there  is  nothing  to  distinguish  the  law  relating  to  them 
from  that  relating  to  the  offences  above  named. 

There  is  no  indication  either  in  the  cases,  or  the  laws, 
or  in  Glanvill  that  resort  was  ever  had  to  the  ordeal  in 
the  time  of  Henry  II.  in  civil  cases.  The  ancient  right 
to  resort  to  the  "judgment  of  God"  appears  to  have 

1  Stubbs's  Sel.  Ch.,  151.  Professor  Stubbs  (Sel.  Ch.  142)  says  that 
the  adoption  of  presentment  and  ordeal  by  the  Assize  of  Clarendon 
had  the  effect  of  abolishing  the  practice  of  compurgation  in  the 
shiremoots,  but  that  trial  by  compurgation  continued  in  the 
boroughs  whose  charters  exempted  them  from  the  jurisdiction  of 
those  courts. 

2  See  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  619.  The  ordeal,  however,  continues 
to  be  mentioned  for  some  time  after  1215.  The  provision  of  Magna 
Carta  of  John,  "  nullus  ballivus  ponat  de  cetei-o  aliquem  ad  legem 
simplici  loquela  sua,  sine  testibus  fidelibus  ad  hoc  inductis,"  is 
carried  into  the  Great  Charter  of  Henry  III.,  aa,m  1221  5,  1  St.  at 
Large,  9  Hen.  III.,  c.  28,  where,  however,  the  term  "  lex  manifesta  " 
was  wrongly  undei'stood  as  meaning  "  wager  of  law." 

3  Lib.  14,  c.  3,  6.  In  the  time  of  Doomsday,  women  could  tender 
the  ordeal  in  real  property  disputes.  See  the  case  of  A  Free  Woman 
v.  Aitard,  Appendix  C,  p.  305. 

b 


XV111  IXTKOUVCTIOX. 

shrunk  away  to  the  denial  of  accusations  of  crime; 
and  in  cases  of  charges  of  the  higher  crimes,  purgation 
by  ordeal  was  no  longer  permitted  as  it  had  been  to 
bishop  Remigius  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  except 
when  the  accused  was  physically  incapacitated  for  the 
duel.  At  the  same  time  it  should  be  noticed  that  while 
the  duel  had  maintained  its  place  in  the  criminal  proce- 
dure, it  had  lost  its  pre-eminence  in  the  procedure  of 
real  property  law  and  been  crowded  back  to  an  inferior 
position  by  the  advance  of  trial  by  inquisition. 

Compurgation  underwent  some  degree  of  statutory 
change  in  the  latter  part  of  our  period.  Until  the 
Assize  of  Clarendon  {anno  1166),  re-enacted  at  North- 
ampton {anno  1176),  this  had  been  an  allowable  mode  of 
disproving  accusations  of  crime;1  but  from  that  time 
the  accused  upon  presentment  by  an  inquest  under  the 
statute  must  undergo  the  ordeal  if  he  would  establish 
his  innocence.2  Whether  the  use  of  the  compurgatory 
oath  or  of  charters  as  evidence  underwent  any  further 
substantial  tranformation  or  enlargement  does  not  clearly 
appear;  but  the  probability  is  that  there  was  little  if 
any  other  change.  The  value  of  the  oath  may  have  been 
affected  somewhat  by  changes  in  ranks  in  society ;  but 
otherwise  it  retained  its  ancient  position.  The  references 
to  compurgation  in  Glanvill  are  numerous,  and  its  use 
shown  to  be  very  extensive.3 

References  to  the  actual  use  of  the  compurgatory  oath 
occur  in  Doomsday  ;  as  in  the  case  of  Lands  of  Hugh  de 
Port,  p.  38;   in  the  time  of  Henry  T.  as  in   the  ease  of 

1  Laws  Wm.  I.  c.  51. 

2  Assize  of  Clarendon,  c.  11  M;  Northampton,  c.  1;  Stubbs'a 
Select  Chart  its,  111.  1.">1  ;  1  Palgrave,  Commonwealth,  259 ;  ante, 
p.  xvi.  :1  Glanvill,  pp.  10,  221,  251,  290  (Beanies). 


[NTRODUCTION.  xix 

Matilda,  pp.  79,  82,  and  perhaps  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
II.,  as  in  the  case  of  Robert  de  [clesham  v.  Abbot  Walter, 
p.  179.  This  last  case,  however,  was  an  offer  of  proof 
by  persons  who  might  have  been  called  as  witnesses. 

The  use  of  charters,  however,  continued  to  be  a  more 
genera],  as  it  was  a  more  satisfactory,  form  of  proof. 
Charters  appear,  to  have  always  been  employed  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  other  modes  of  proof,  excepting  by 
w  itnesses,1  when  litigants  were  so  fortunate  as  to  own 
them  ;  at  all  events  there  is  no  indication,  in  any  of  the 
numerous  cases,  of  the  use  of  wager  of  law,  or  of  the 
ordeal,  or  duel,  when  a  charter  was  introduced  in  evi- 
dence/ except  when  there  was  doubt  as  to  the  genuine- 
ness of  the  charter.3  And  even  then  if  the  judges 
found  the  question  of  its  genuineness  difficult  to  decide 
they  sometimes  suggested  a  compromise;  as  in  Abbot 
of  Battel  v.  Alan,  p.  2i5.  In  case  the  charter  were 
rejected  as  a  forgery,  the  party  who  offered  it  would  of 
course  fail,  unless  he  was  allowed  to  fall  back  upon  the 
ordeal  or  the  duel.  However,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  upon  judgment  in  any  case,  not  compromised  or 
confessed,  the  defeated  party  could  summon  the  judges 
to  the  duel  for  false  judgment.4  In  the  case  of  Robert 
Fardenc,  Appendix  C,  p.  306,  that  person  offers  to  prove 

1  "Per  cartas  suag  et  per  testes  suos."  P.  27. 

2  The  expression  "  justo  Dei  judicio  "  in  the  case  of  Bishop  Wulstan 
v.  Archbishop  Thomas,  p.  3,  whore  charters  were  produced,  is  pro- 
bably not  used  in  any  technical  sense.  The  phrase  is  often  used  by 
the  chroniclers  where  it  could  not  mean  the  ordeal  or  the  duel.  See, 
for  example,  Eog.  de  Hov.  anno  1135  ;  1  Twysden's  Script.  614.  Hul 
if  the  ordeal  was  used  in  Wulstan  y.  Thomas,  it  was  probably  because 
the  charters  were  nearly  worn  out, — "  scriptis  evidentissimis  detritis, 

it  us  annihilatis." 
11  Brunner,  Schwurgerichte,  64,  65. 
*  Glanvill,  lib.  8,  c.  9. 

b  2 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

title  to  land  against  the  whole  hundred,  "omnibus 
legibus;w  but  whether  this  offer  was  against  a  judg- 
ment of  the  hundred  is  not  clear.  Probably  it  was  not. 
Evidence  by  witnesses  was  almost  universal  in  the 
Norman  period ;  but  it  generally  appeared  in  a  new 
form.  In  Anglo-Saxon  times,  the  evidence  of  witnesses, 
as  distinguished  from  compurgation,  was  employed,  like 
the  latter,  strictly  as  party-proof;  but  within  the  limits 
attached  to  it  in  that  character,  it  was  used  either  as 
an  independent,  substantive  mode  of  proof,  or  in  aid  of 
documents,1  or  perhaps  upon  the  failure  or  inadequacy 
of  compurgation."  Compurgation  in  its  essential 
features  consisted  in  the  bringing  forward  of  a  definite 
number  of  persons,  dependent  upon  the  rank  of  the 
parties,3  and  the  object  of  the  suit,  wdio  were  to  swear, 
not  to  the  facts,  but  to  the  credibility  of  the  party  for 
whom  they  appeared.4  Party  witnesses,  however,  testi- 
fied to  facts, — to  matters  "de  visu  et  auditu,"5  though 

1  Compare  Modberfc  v.  Prior  and  Monks  of  Bath,  pp.  114,  115. 

2  See  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  610;  Brunner,  Schwurgerichte,  55,  50  ; 
Essays  in  Ang.-Sax.  Law,  218,  as  to  the  failure  of  the  compurgator^ 
oath. 

3  Palgrave  (1  Commonwealth)  says  that  from  the  time  of  Henry  II. 
the  compurgators  were  to  be  the  peers  of  the  party ;  but  this  is  con- 
trary to  Bracton,  p.  410,  §  3. 

4  Brunner,  Schwurgerichte,  49;  Essays  in  Ang.-Sax  Law,  186. 
Compare  the  compurgatory  oath  of  Morel's  vouchers  in  the  Njal- 
Saga,  2  DaseDt's  Story  of  Burat  Njal,  264. 

5  See  Brunner,  Schwur.,  54  ;  Laws  of  Wm.  I.  c.  2  I,  45.  There  were 
fcwoclasses  of  witnesses  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  and  Germanic  procedure, 
culled  by  German  writers  transaction  and  community  witnesses. 
Either  could  be  produced.  Brunner,  Shwurgerichte,  53.  Each  class 
were  strictly  party -witnesses,  and  gave  testimony  in  sel  formula 
word  for  word,  according  to  the  judgment  concerning  the  proofs. 
Bmnner,  Schwur.  54.  Their  functions  were,  therefore,  much  more 
circumscribed  than  those  of  the  Norman  inquisitors.  As  to  the  dis- 
tinction between  the  two  classes,  see  Brunner,  pp.  53,  54.  A.nd 
further,  see  Essays  in  Ang.-Sax.  Law,  1ST:  and  compare  Bishop 
Wuii  stan  v.  Abbol  Walter,  p.  L6,  a  case  of  this  kind  apparently. 


[NTR0D1  CT10N.  XXI 

iii  ;i  narrow  formula,  prescribed  by  a  sort  of  interlocu- 
tory judgment,  by  which  both  the  burden  of  proof  and 
the  theme  of  proof  (beiveisthema)  were  declared.-  This 
form  of  testimony  by  witnesses,  unrestrained  by  the 
limits  apparently  set  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  period,  was 
employed  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror;  as  may  per- 
haps be  seen  in  Bishop  Wulfstan  v.  Abbot  Walter,  p. 
1  6.  It  was  also  used  in  the  time  of  Stephen  and  after- 
wards ;  as  may  be  seen  in  the  case  of  Modbert  v.  Prior 
and  Monks  of  Bath,  p.  114,  in  Abbot  Gilbert  V.  Earl 
Gilbert,. p.  150,  in  Robert  de  Icklesham  v.  Abbot  Walter, 
p.  179,  in  Abbot  Hamlin  v.  Earl  William,  p.  182,  and  in 
Glanvill.3  But  as  in  Anglo-Saxon  times,  the  witnesses 
appear  still  to  be  party  witnesses,  and  probably  were  not 
subject  to  examination,  as  they  had  not  been  before  the 
conquest.4 

1  Or  the  privilege  of  proof,  as  it  often  amounted  to  in  the  procedure 
of  the  Germanic  law.  Compare  Essays  in  Ang.-Sax.  Law,  237,  200, 
211,  213. 

2  Brunner,  Schwur.,  54.  See  Holtzendorff's  Rechts  lexikon,  Beweis- 
urtheil. 

3  Lib.  2,  c.  6;  lib.  6,  c.  11.  Unless  the  Anglo-Saxon  formalism  of 
the  witness-oath  was  liinited  to  the  evidence  of  the  laity,  these  refe- 
rences show  that  the  witness-proof  had  developed  away  from  and 
entirely  lost  its  ancient  character,  or  at  least  had  become  mnch 
enlarged  in  scope.  In  the  Anglo-Saxon  procedure,  the  witness 
appears  standing  with  him  for  whom  he  swore,  thus  making  oath : 
"  In  the  name  of  the  Almighty  God,  as  I  here  for  N.,  in  true  witness 
stand,  unbidden  and  unbought,  so  I  with  my  eyes  '  oversaw,'  and 
with  my  ears  overheard,  that  which  I  with  him  say."  This  must 
not  be  mistaken  for  the  compurgatory  oath,  wrhich  was  as  follows  •. 
"  By  the  Lord,  the  oath  is  clean  and  unpurjured  which  N.  has  sworn." 
1  Anc.  Laws  and  Inst.  181  (8vo.  ed.).  The  Icelandic  compurgatory 
oath  was  the  same  in  effect,  but  pursued  the  words  of  the  party's  oath, 
with  solemn  assertion  of  belief  in  their  truth.  Njal-Saga,  2  Dasent, 
264.  It  is  worth  noticing,  that  in  two  of  the  cases  cited  in  the  text 
supra,  Bishop  Wulfstan  v.  Abbot  Walter,  and  Modbert  v.  Prior  and 
Monks  of  Bath,  the  Anglo-Saxon  (and  Germanic)  peculiarity  of  a 
judgment  in  the  midst  of  a  cause,  directed  to  the  production  of  the 

proofs,  appears.     See  Essays  in  Ang.-Sax.  Law,  185,  186,  2  1!'. 
4  Brunner,  Schwur.  54. 


XXII  INTRODUCTION. 

But  the  great  type  of  evidence,  or  rather  trial/  by 
witnesses  in  the  Norman  period  was  the  inquisition. 
This  mode  of  trial  was  introduced  into  England  with,  or 
directly  after,  the  Conquest,  and  become  the  chief  feature 
of  the  Norman  age.  It  consisted  in  the  finding  of  facts 
by  the  evidence,  generally  on  oath,  of  impartial  men, 
chosen  and  examined  by  an  officer  of  the  law,  by  virtue 
of  a  writ  of  the  king  or  justiciar,  or  by  some  other  person 
exercising  authority;  examples  of  which  may  be  seen  in 
the  case  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Augustine,  p.  33,  and  in 
Bishop  Robert  v.  Lord  of  Stow,  p.  139. 

The  number  of  the  body  throughout  the  Norman 
period,  strictly  so-called,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  II.,  was  undefined,  varying  probably 
accordingly  to  the  importance  of  the  case  and  the  rank 
of  the  parties.  By  the  time  of  Glanvill's  treatise,  how- 
ever (perhaps  anno  1187),  the  number  was  generally, 
though  not  always  twelve.2  But  whatever  the  number 
of  the  body,  the  finding  was  at  this  time  to  be  unani- 
mous. If  any  of  the  persons  summoned  were  ignorant 
of  the  facts,  or  if  some  of  the  number  disagreed  with  the 
rest,  they  were  to  be  set  aside  and  others  chosen  to  take 
their  places  until  the  required  number  of  agreeing  per- 
sons was  found.3  And  if  the  number  necessary  could 
not  be  obtained,  of  agreeing  persons,  the  inquisition,  it 
seems,  failed.     None  of  the  writs,  however,  until  in  the 

1  It  should  be  remembered, however,  thai  the  tuques!  was  used  for 
fiscal  purposes  as  well  .■*>  in  litigation.  The  greal  survey  of  Dooms- 
day is  an  example  of  such  use  upon  a  mosl  extensive  scale  Indeed, 
the  fiscal  use  of  the  inquisition  on  behalf  of  t ho  sovereign  was  pro- 
bably  its  firsl  use.     See  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  613. 

2  Lib.  13,  c  2,  et  seq.     See  Appendix  H. 

3  lb.  lib.  2,  c.  17.  Glanville,  it  is  true,  represents  the  close  of  our 
period;  bul  there  can  be  no  doubl  thai  the  principle  of  unanimity 
prevailed  from  the  first,  when  a  definite  number  was  to  be  sum- 
moned. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxni 

reign  of  Henry  II.,  specify  a  definite  number  of  wit- 
nesses ;  and  it  is  not  clear  whether  the  finding  was  to 
be  unanimous  or  not. 

Here  is  seen  the  essential  principle  of  the  jury  as  it 
prevailed  through  the  middle  ages  to  the  time  of  Edward 
The  Fourth.  Indeed  here  is  the  principle  of  the  jury 
system  of  the  present  day;  for  the  change  by  which  the 
juror  and  the  witness  became  separated  was  only  a  modi- 
fication of  the  Norman  inquisition,  not  an  essential 
alteration  of  it. 

This,  however,  is  not  the  most  interesting  phase  of 
the  inquisition.  That  mode  of  trial  developed,  before 
the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  this  book,  into  the 
various  recognitions  which  played  so  important  a  part  in 
the  procedure  of  the  middle  ages  and  of  modern  times. 
The  growth  of  the  writ  of  novel  disseisin  of  Glanvill,  the 
type  of  all  these  recognitions,1  is  very  fully  illustrated  by 
writs  contained  in  this  book. 

In  its  early  and  middle  stages,  this  writ  is  irregular 
and  undefined  in  form  ;  and  it  remains  almost  down  to 
the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  a  writ  of  disseisin  rather  than  a 
writ  of  novel  disseisin.  The  first  indication  of  its  use  in 
England  is  found  in  the  first  case  given  in  this  volume;2 
where,  however,  the  form  of  the  writ  is  not  stated.  An 
inquisition  is  again  ordered  in  one  of  the  cases  of  the 
Lands  of  the  Church  at  Ely,  p.  24,  the  king's  writ 
directing  that,  upon  the  assembling  of  certain  shires, 
"  many  of  those  Englishmen  should  be  chosen  who  knew 
how  the  lands  of  the  Church  were  held  {jacebaut)  on  the 

1  The  term  "  recognition"  almost  supersedes  that  of"  inquisition" 
before  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  The  words  are  generally 
synonymous;  but  recognition  is  often  the  spec ies,  while  inquisition 
is  the  i/enus. 

•  As  to  this  ease  of  Edwin  r.  William,  see  the  Preface. 


XXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

day  when  king  Edward  died,  and  that  they  should  give 
evidence  thereto  on  oath/''  Another  writ  pertaining  to 
lands  of  the  same  church  commands  Archbishop  Lanfranc 
to  make  inquiry  by  the  bishop  of  Coutances  and  by 
bishop  Walkelin  and  others  how  certain  jurors  swore, 
and  who  heard  the  oath  as  to  the  lands  in  question. 
William,  the  etheling,  directs  the  sheriff  of  Kent  to 
require  Hamo  "  and  the  good  men  of  Sandwich,  named 
by  Hamo,  to  speak  the  truth  concerning  a  ship  of  the 
abbot  of  St.  Augustine/'  p.  33. 

King  Rufus  directs  the  same  sheriff  to  cause  an  in- 
quisition "  by  the  men  of  the  hundred  of  Middleton,"  as 
to  customs  of  St.  Augustine,  p.  66. 

Henry  I.  commands  Hugh  of  Bocland  and  the  sheriff 
of  Oxford  to  summon  the  men  of  their  counties  "  to  speak 
the  whole  truth"  concerning  certain  lands,  p.  74.  In 
Monks  of  St.  Stephen  v.  The  King's  Tenants,  p.  120 
[anno  1122),  sixteen  men  are  sworn  "to  make  true  affir- 
mation on  inquisition"  concerning  certain  land.  Soon 
afterwards,  Ralph  Basset  is  directed,  inter  alia,  to  in- 
quire "by  legal  men  of  Oxford"  as  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  abbot  Vincent,  p.  121.  The  next  writ  gives  promise, 
though  vaguely,  of  the  writ  of  novel  disseisin  of  Glanvill. 
This  commands  the  defendant  to  give  seisin  to  the  abbot 
and  monks  of  Gloucesterof  the  lands  and  tithes  "  of  which 
they  had  been  unjustly  and  without  judgment  disseised. 
...  as  they  can  prove  title  by  their  legal  men,"  p.  128. 
Another  writ  to  the  same  party  points  more  directly  to 
the  writ  of  Glanvill,  beginning  nearly  in  the  settled 
form;- — "if  without  judgment  yon  have  disseised  the 
abbot  of  Gloucester  of  Coleby  ....  then  1  command 
that  you  justly  restore  seisin  to  him,"  p.  130.  The 
in  xt  writ    in    order  in   the   reign  of  Henry   I.,  to  which. 


[NTR0DUCT102T.  XXV 

however,  no  date  is  assigned,  indicates  a  fluctuation,  if 
the  writ  be  later  in  time,  receding  to  the  unsettled  state 
of  the  earlier  writs  above  referred  to.  It  commands 
certain  persons  to  have  an  inquisition  "by  good  men  of 
the  county"  concerning  boundary  lines,  and  if  they  do 
not  have  full  confidence  in  the  witnesses,  to  require  them 
In  make  oath  to  their  return, p.  139. 

The  promise  of  Glanvill,  as  above  indicated,  disappears 
again  in  the  time  of  Stephen  ;  though  only  two  writs  of 
inquisition  of  this  reign  are  given.  The  first  orders  an 
inquiry  "  by  the  vicinage  and  the  good  men  of  the  dis- 
trict if  five  acres  held  by  W.  L.,  through  a  disseisin  of 
the  plaintiffs,  which  land  they  claim,  are  of  their  tenure," 
p.  1 60.  And  the  second  writ,  relating  to  the  lands  above- 
mentioned  of  the  abbot  of  Gloucester,  and  directed  against 
the  same  party,  commands  that  he  justly  give  seisin  to 
the  abbot  of  a  certain  church,  lands  and  tithes,  "  as  he 
had  been  seised  on  the  day  when  king  Henry  last  crossed 
into  Normandy/'  p.  162.  The  quoted  part  of  this 
second  writ  deserves  to  be  compared  with  the  beginning 
of  the  writ  of  novel  disseisin  in  Glanvill.1 

The  form  of  the  later  writ  reappears  more  distinctly 
than  ever  at  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Henry  II., — 
a  fact  going  to  support  the  general  opinion  that  that 
king,  from  the  first,  took  an  active  interest  in  improving 
the  forms  of  legal  process.  Two  writs  are  given  in 
Abbot  of  Abingdon  v.  Turstin,  pp.  169,  170,  which  pro- 
vide that  "  if  the  abbot  of  Abingdon  has  been  un- 
justly and  without  judgment  disseised  of  land  at  M.," 
the   sheriff    shall   "without  delay  and  justly  give  him 

1  X.  complains  to  me  that  R.  has  unjustly  and  without  judgment 
disseised  him  of  his  free  tenement  ....  since  my  last  voyage  into 
Normandy."     Lib.  13,  c.  33  ;  Appendix  II. 


XXVI  ENTRODUCTION. 

seisin."  The  only  essential  difference  between  these 
writs  and  the  writ  of  Glanvill  is  that  the  latter  contains 
a  limitation  clause  (making-  the  process  on  its  face  a 
writ  of  novel  disseisin),  provides  for  security,  and  states 
the  number  of  jurors.  The  next  writ  (p.  107)  of  Henry 
II.,  however,  which  is  between  the  same  parties  (per- 
haps  anno  11 58),  contains  a  limitation  clause; — a  long 
one,  it  is  true,  extending-  back  to  the  death  of  Henry  I. 
(1135),  but  this  was  because  the  whole  reign  of  Stephen 
was  a  period  of  violence,  when  suitors  against  the  strong 
fared  ill  in  the  courts.  And  this  was  the  usual  limita- 
tion in  the  early  and  even  later  part  of  the  reign  of 
Henry  II.1 

An  examination  of  other  writs  would  reveal  a  similar 
progress  from  indefiniteness  of  form  to  a  settled  state, 
attained  about  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  II. ;  but 
the  subject  cannot  be  further  pursued  at  the  present  time. 
It  must  for  the  present  suffice  to  say,  that  the  history  of 
each  of  the  Norman  writs  teaches  the  same  law  of 
gradual  growth  ;  the  forms  of  process  at  times  receding, 
but  on  the  whole  advancing  to  the  permanent  form  as- 
sumed (in  most  cases)  by  the  end  of  the  12th  or  the  early 
part  of  the  13th  century.  At  this  time  there  appears  in 
history  of  the  English  law  a  distinctively  English  writ 
procedure,  just  as  at  the  same  time  there  appears  in  the 
history  of  English  architecture  a  definite  type  of  church 
architecture.  The  Norman  germs  have  had  their 
natural  development  on  English  soil.  There  has  been  no 
transplanting  of  developed  forms.     The  writs  in  the  Ap- 

1  See  Writs  from  Glanvill,  Appendix  H;  Men  of  Wallingford  and 
Oxford  y.Abbot  Walkelin,  p.  198;  The  King  v.  Abbot  Walkelin,  p.  203  j 
Sheriff  of  Berkshire  v.  Abbot  Walkelin,  p.  207  j  Monks  of  Abingdon, 
p.  250.  Sec  also  the  case  of  Thomas  a  Becket,  p.  -\G,  for  a  different 
limitation. 


INTltoiil  ("HON.  XXVII 

pendix,  taken  from  Glanvill,  indicate,  indeed,  the  work 
of  a  single  mind,  directed  to  the  attainment  of  a  definite 
object ;  but  the  result  is  merely  the  unification  and  com- 
pletion, in  proper  fullness,  of  the  writs  at  hand.1 

The  chief  interest  attaching-  to  these  writs  arises  from 
the  fact  that  in  their  final,  settled  form  they  became  the 
fixed  precedents  for  the  peculiar  forms  of  action  which 
have  characterized  the  English  law  from  the  time  of 
Edward  the  First  to  the  present  day. 

It  may  not  be  strictly  true  that  when  pleadings  ceased 
to  be  oral,  the  established  writs  (or  "  writs  of  course  ") 
became  the  models  upon  which  the  written  declarations 
were  framed.  Doubtless  for  a  considerable  time  the 
form  of  the  oral  plaint  was  preserved  in  memory,  and 
was  merely  reduced  to  writing  by  the  plaintiff's  at- 
torney ;  but  the  earliest  forms  of  declaration  in  existence 
show  that  the  plaintiff's  complaint  was,  as  a  priori 
reasoning  would  show  it  must  have  been,  a  substantial 
repetition  of  the  writ,  with  such  amplification  only  as 
was  necessary.  It  would  not  be  safe,  however,  to  affirm 
that  in  the  unsettled,  or  rather  transition,  period  of 
process  we  have  in  the  writs  any  certain  indication  of  a 

1  We  do  not  at  this  time  go  into  the  question  whether  the  early 
writs  of  Henry  II.  may  not  have  existed  in  the  same  form  for  a  short 
time  previously  in  Normandy.  The  point  is,  that  there  is  no  gap  in 
England  in  the  history  of  the  writ.  The  form  temp.  Henry  II.  follows 
naturally  upon  the  previous  writs,  and  requires  no  suggestion  of  an 
importation  to  account  for  it.  It  may  be  added,  however,  that 
Brunner's  argument  in  favour  of  Normandy  is  not  very  well  sup- 
ported. Schwurgerichte,  295,  301 — 303.  The  evidence  rises  little 
above  conjecture.  Moreover,  the  writs  from  Normandy  to  which  he 
refers  are  quite  different  in  form  from  those  above  given,  and  are  not 
in  the  regular  order  of  development  from  thewrrits  of  Henry  I.  None 
of  the  English  recognition  writs  contain  the  expression  "  secundum 
assisam  meam "  used  in  Normandy.  The  expression  in  Glanvill 
"  posuit  se  inde  in  assisam  meam,"  lib.  2,  c.  8,  refers  to  the  Grand 
Assi/.c  which  is  attributed  to  Henry  II. 


xwill  INTRODUCTION. 

lack  of  definite  form  in  the  (oral)  pleadings  which  then 
prevailed.  There  is  too  much  ground  for  belief  that  the 
pleadings  were  presented  for  a  long  time  in  a  set 
formalism  of  words,  as  had  been  the  case  before  the 
Conquest,  to  justify  such  an  assertion.  But  it  is  alto- 
gether probable  that  from  the  time  when  the  writs  as- 
sumed permanent  shape,  we  have  in  them  the  substance 
of  the  verbal  plaint  with  which  the  trial  opened. 

The  irregularity  of  form  of  the  Norman  writs  is  sug- 
gestive of  important  facts  of  another  character.  The 
king's  writ  was  law,  and  his  will,  as  expressed  in  the 
writ,  could  not  be  disobeyed  without  the  hazard  of 
punishment.1  There  is  no  indication  in  any  of  the 
cases  or  laws  of  the  Norman  or  sub-Norman  time,  or 
in  Glanvill,  of  doubt  ever  expressed  as  to  the  efficiency 
of  any  perfect  writ  which  the  king  might  grant.  No 
suggestion  is  to  be  found  that  question  was  ever  raised 
whether  or  not  the  writ  conformed  to  the  forms  of  action 
in  common  use.  Nor  did  Magna  Carta  attempt  to  re- 
strain the  royal  prerogative  in  this  respect ;  except  in 
taking  away  the  king's  right  to  disseise  or  imprison  his 
subjects  without  process  of  law. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1258,  so  far  as  extant  legis- 
lation indicates,  that  the  k  vg's  right  to  frame  writs  at 
will  was  seriously  abridged.  In  this  year  the  famous 
Provisions  of  Oxford2  were  promulgated,  virtually  'es- 
tablishing a  regency  over  the  king  and  kingdom,  one 

1  De  chartis  vcro  regiis  et  factis  regum,  non  debeut  nee  possunfc 
justiciarii  ncc  privatse  persona;  disputare.  Bracton,  34;  vol.  1, 
pp.  268,  26'!»,  of  the  new  edition  by  Twiss.  Item  nee  factum  regis, 
nee  chartam  potest  quis  judicare,  ita  quod  factum  domiui  regis  irri- 
tatur.     lb. 

*  According  to  Twiss  (Introd.  to  his  ed.  of  Bracton),  and  to  Gliter- 
bouk  (Bracton  and  sein  Verhaltniss  zmn  Romesehen  Rechte),  Bracton 


INTRODUCTION.  XXIX 

elause  of  which  declared  that  the  chancellor  should  swear 

to  issue  no  more  writs,  except  writs  of  course,  unless 
upon  command  of  the  king  and  his  council  present  with 
him.1  The  Provisions  of  Oxford,  it  is  true,  were  abro- 
gated six  years  afterwards  under  a  submission  to  the 
arbitration  of  the  king  of  France  of  the  differences  be- 
tween the  king-  (Henry  III.)  and  his  barons;  but  their 
abrogation  appears  to  have  left  untouched  this  particular 
clause  ; -  for  within  thirty  years  from  that   time  it  had 

wrote  before  the  Provisions  of  Oxford  ;  the  different  parts  (tractatus), 
according  to  Twiss,  being  written  at  various  times,  from  1229  to 
1256-7. 

1  Ceo  jura  le  chanceler  de  Engletere.  Ke  il  ne  enselera  nul  bref 
fors  bref  de  curs  sanz  le  commandement  le  rei  et  de  sun  conseil  ke 
serra  present.  Annales  Monast.  448 ;  Stubbs's  Select  Charters,  389. 
E  ke  il  [le  chanceler]  ne  ensele  hors  de  curs  par  la  sule  volunte  del 
rei ;  mes  le  face  par  le  cuuseil  ke  serra  entur  le  rei.  Ann.  Mon.  451 ; 
Stubbs,  391.  That  is,  by  the  second  clause,  that  the  chancellor 
should  seal  no  writ  out  of  course  by  the  sole  will  of  the  king,  but 
should  do  it  by  direction  of  the  council  who  should  be  about  the 
king. 

-  It  was  a  minor  point  probably;  and  the  practice  of  the  half-dozen 
years  was  perhaps  considered  to  have  settled  the  law.  The  generally 
received  statement,  that  "  a  strict  observance  of  the  old  forms"  of 
writ  had  at  length  established  them,  so  as  to  render  it  illegal  to 
frame  new  ones  (1  Reeves,  Hist.  Eng.  Law,  97  Finl.),  has,  it  is 
believed,  as  applied  to  the  king,  no  foundation  in  fact.  It  is  true 
that  writs  "  of  course  " — that  is,  writs  in  a  common  form,  for  the 
ordinary  cases, — were  in  use  prior  to  the  Provisions  of  Oxford 
(indeed,  from  the  time  of  Glanvill,  as  we  have  seen),  and  the 
clerks  in  chancery  had  no  power  to  vary  them ;  and  this  produced 
settled  forms  of  action.  But  the  king  probably  was  not  bound  by 
them,  and  could  frame  writs  virtually  at  will.  See  Bracton,  34,  ut 
supra.  Bracton  does,  however,  say  that  there  were  certain  esta- 
blished writs  of  course,  granted  and  approved  by  the  Common 
Council  of  the  whole  kingdom,  which  could  not  be  changed  without 
the  barons'  consent  and  will,  413  b.  It  is  doubtful  if  this  applied  to 
the  royal  prerogative  :  it  is  more  likely  to  have  been  a  restraint 
imposed  upon  the  chancery  clerks.  But  if  it  was  a  restraint  of  the 
king's  powers  also,  it  indicates  either  that  Bracton  wrote  after  tlie 
Provisions  of  Oxford  (which  is  not  probable),  or  that  the  Provisions 
merely  re-enacted   some  prior  statute,  which  has  been  lost.     In  any 


XXX  IX  I  IKHil  CTION 

become  necessary  for  Parliament  to  pass  a  statute  to 
authorize  the  grant  of  writs  without  imposing-  upon 
suitors  the  burden  (which  was  practically  prohibitive)  of 
seeking  the  same  through  the  council.  This  statute  was 
the  famous  Act  of  Westminster,  2,  c.  21,  anno  1285, — 
the  most  salutary  and  far  reaching  enactment  ever 
passed  in  the  history  of  English  procedure.  Under  it 
arose  actions  on  the  case ;  the  clerks  in  chancery  being 
authorized  to  frame  new  writs  whenever  a  meritorious 
case  was  presented  "inconsimili  casu"  to  any  of  the 
writs  already  in  existence,  but  for  which  none  of  those 
writs  was  adequate.1 

The  necessity  for  the  law  authorizing  actions  on  the 
case,  and  the  endless  train  of  subtleties  reaching  down  to 
the  present  day,  which  have  so  often  resulted  in  the  per- 
version of  justice,  were  the  natural  consequence  of  de- 
priving the  king,  or  rather  his  chancellor,  of  the  ancient 
prerogative  of  granting  new  writs.  Within  proper  limits, 
to  guard  against  abuse,  the  right  to  issue  writs  when- 
ever a  case  proper  for  redress  or  relief  was  presented  was 
salutary,  and  its  continuance  would  have  saved  the 
English  law  from  centuries  of  constant  and  deserved  re- 
proach. The  Statute  of  Westminster  2  was  only  an  at- 
tempted return  to  what  had  existed  theoretically,  if  not 
practically,2  until  the  middle  of  the  13th  century,  —  to 
wit,  actions    on  the  case;  but  the   state    of  law  which 


event,  the  king's  power  was  abridged  by  legislation,  and  not  by  pre- 
script ion. 

1  Leading  Cases  on  Torts,  351 — a  statute  which  has  always  been 
in  active  force  in  the  greater  part  of  America,  as  well  as  in  England 
and   Ireland. 

2  The  clauses  in  the  Provisions  of  Oxford  indicate  that  writs  out 
of  course  had  been  readily  obtainable — so  readily  as  to  have  created 
an  abase  to  be  corrected. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXI 

made  it  necessary  prevented  the  statute  from  accom- 
plishing  the   result,  without  adding  the  train   of  evils 

which,  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  have  attended  the 
endless  suggestions  of  distinction  between  the  old  actions 
and  the  new. 

The  abrogation  by  the  Provisions  of  Oxford  of  the 
king's  right  to  issue  writs  at  will,  together  with  the 
abrogation  by  Magna  Carta  of  the  king's  right  to  dis- 
seise and  imprison  his  subjects  without  legal  process, 
was  in  reality  a  limitation  of  what  is  sometimes  called 
the  king's  equitable  powers.1  There  is  no  Court  of 
Chancery  in  any  part  of  the  period  covered  by  this  book. 
The  chancellor  is,  to  the  end,  the  king's  clerk,  and 
never  appears  as  sole  judge  in  equity;  though  he  often 
sits  as  a  member  of  the  King's  Court  and  of  the  Great 
Council.2  But  the  kingdom  is  not  without  a  judge  in 
equity ;  and  that  judge  is  the  king,  acting  in  his 
capacity  of  chief  ruler  of  the  land.  He  does,  indeed,  sit 
with  his  barons  and  clergy  in  causes  which  in  modern 
times  would  be  called  equitable  ;  as  in  the  case  of  Abbot 
Odo,  p.  221.  But  he  also  acts  alone,  and  of  his  own 
motion,  grants  or  refuses  the  claims  of  his  subjects  to 
redress  or  relief.  He  issues  writs  in  the  nature  of  final 
judgments,  where  there  has  been  no  further  trial  than  is 
involved  in  presenting  to  him  a  case  for  relief.  Examples 
of  such  writs  may  be  seen  in  numerous  cases  in  this 
book.  In  Abbot  Scotland  v.  Hamo,  p.  13,  William  the 
Conqueror  directs  Archbishop  Lanfranc  and  others  to 
cause  the  plaintiff  to  have  seisin  of  Fordwiek,  which  the 
defendant  holds,  and  of  other  lands.     In  one  of  the  cases 

1  Essays  in  Anglo- Snxon  Law,  pp.  21—26. 

2  As  to  the  chancellor's  character,  see  the  case   of  Abbot    Odo, 
p.  221. 


xxxi!  INTRODUCTION. 

of  the  church  at  Ely,  p.  2,7,  the  same  king  orders  a  plea 
of  lands  to  be  stayed.  William  Rufus,  in  Church  of 
St.  Benet,  p.  12,  orders  his  officers  to  give  the  church 
seisin  of  certain  lands  which  he  had  granted  to  it. 
Henry  I.  discharges  the  men  of  Whistley  from  liability 
to  Osatus,  p.  87  ;  he  orders  the  citizens  of  Canterbury  to 
restore  to  the  men  of  St.  Augustine  certain  pledges 
which  the  former  had  executed,  p.  88  ;  he  enjoins  the 
defendants  from  entering  certain  pasture  lands  of  the 
plaintiff,  in  Church  of  St.  Peter  v.  Milo,  p.  129  ;  and  he 
commands  the  sheriff  of  Yorkshire  to  put  the  bishop  of 
Durham  into  possession  of  all  the  lands  which  pertain 
to  his  bishopric.1  Many  other  examples  may  be  found 
in  the  cases  temp.  Stephen  and  Henry  II. 

The  existence  of  such  a  power,  exercisable  ex  parte, 
would  be  attended  with  grave  danger  in  the  hands  of 
the  most  virtuous  king ;  and  it  is  not  strange  that 
abuse  of  it  became  so  great  as  to  require  the  just  re- 
straint imposed  by  Magna  Carta.  But  further,  there 
was  not  the  need  for  the  exercise  of  equity  jurisdiction 
by  a  judge  sitting  apart  from  the  ordinary  tribunals  that 
there  has  been  in  later  times.  The  courts  were  not  as 
yet  tied  down  by  rigid  forms  of  action,  or  by  a  procedure 
which  could  not  compass  a  case  involving  more  than  two 
sets  of  parties.  Remedies  such  as  would  in  modern 
times  be  termed  equitable  were  administered  without 
question  by  judges  or  defendants,  in  the  same  courts 
which  had  jurisdiction  of  actions  of  debt  and  trespass. 
Examples  may  be    seen    in  Abbot    Athellclem    v.  The 

1  It  is  not  certain  that  tin's  instance,  and  some  others  like  it,  are 
not  cases  of  writs  of  execution  upon  judgment  of  the  courl  3,  but  it  is 
probable  they  are  not.  In  such  cases,  it  was  usual  to  notice  the 
judgment  in  the  writ.  See  pp.  l'J,  21,  29,  98,  117,  122,  12  1,  L29. 
Km  this  was  not  always  done.     See  pp.  L05,  128. 


INTRODUCTION.  \\\m 

King's  Officers,  p.  30,  in  Abbot  Odo,  p.  221,  and  in 
the  dispute  between  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Abingdon 
and  Thomas  de  Esseburn,  p.  234. 

Mr,  Allen1  gives  credence  to  the  statement  of  one  of 
the  judges  in  the  Year  Books-  that  the  king-  himself 
could  be  sued  in  Norman  times  j  preferring  the  statement 
of  a  judge  who  declared  he  had  seen  a  writ  against  tin- 
king  to  the  assertion  of  Bracton3  that  the  sovereign 
could  not  be  compelled  by  the  process  of  the  courts. 
The  collection  of  writs  and  cases  in  this  book  fails  to 
give  any  countenance  to  this  statement;  and  the  judge 
in  the  Year  Book  may  safely  be  presumed  to  have  been 
mistaken,  unless  the  writ  was  executed  by  the  pope. 
The  king  was  himself  "  the  fountain  of  justice  "  in  a  very 
apt  sense  at  this  time ;  and  who  should  assume  to 
execute  a  writ  against  him  ?  No  one  surely  short  of  the 
pope  or  the  baronage.4  And  who  would  have  the  courage 
to  serve  a  writ  upon  the  king,  especially  in  the  Norman 
period  ?  Such  an  one  would  be  apt  to  meet  the  recep- 
tion that  befell  the  unlucky  messenger  of  the  bishop  of 
St.  Carilef,  Appendix,  p.  308,  by  king  Rufus.5  Even 
the  pope's  legate  might  hesitate  upon  such  a  venture. 
To  execute  a  writ  even  against  the  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, though  on  papal  authority,  was  no  pleasant 
matter.     In  the  case  of  the  Monks  of  Canterbury  v. 


1  Eoyal  Prerogative,  pp.  94 — 97. 

2  24  Edw.  III.  55,  pi.  40.  See  also  22  Edw.  III.  3,  pi.  2.->  ; 
s.  c.  Fitzhb.  Abr.  Error,  8j  43  Edw.  III.  22,  pi.  12  ;  Whistler's  Case, 
10  Coke,  64. 

3  Bracton,  5  b,  171  b. 

4  Bracton  makes  the  latter  exception.  "  Nisi  sit  qui  dicat,  quod 
universitas  regni  et  baronagium  suum  hoc  facere  debeat,  et  possit  in 
curia  ipsius  regis."     171  b. 

5  And  that  was  merely  the  case  of  a  claim  addressed  to  the  king. 


XXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

Archbishop  Baldwin,  p.  :2K>,  the  pope's  legates  are 
clothed  with  a  writ  against  the  defendant  from  the  head 
of  the  Church;  but  the  record  states  that  the  legates 
"  were  in  deliberation"  concerning  the  manner  of  exe- 
cuting the  precept.1 

While,  however,  it  is  pretty  clear  that  process  could 
not  be  executed  against  the  king-  in  the  ordinary  course 
of  justice,  it  is  certain  that  the  king's  rights  were  often 
brought  in  question  without  his  consent.  Claims  were 
sometimes  set  up  before  the  commissioners  of  Dooms- 
day to  lands  held  by  the  king,and  the  claims  investigated ; 
as  in  Richard  de  Surdcval  v.  The  King,  p.  51,  in  Robert, 
the  Dispenser,  v.  The  King,  p.  57,  and  in  Ivo  Tailbois 
v.  The  King,  p.  58.-  And  in  these  cases  the  claimant 
was  sometimes  successful,  as  in  the  last-named,  case. 
But  no  process  appears  to  have  issued  against  the  king; 
his  interests  being  attended  to  doubtless  by  the  com- 
missioners. The  king  was  also  frequently  vouched  to 
warrant  his  grants.3  But  of  process  issued  against  the 
sovereign  in  the  11th  and  12th  centuries  there  is  no 
evidence.4 

The  king  appears  in  person  among  the  judges  in  many 
of  the  cases,  often  taking  an  active  part  in  the  trial.  In 
Abbot  Walter  v.  Gilbert  de  Baillol,  p.  175,  king  Henry 

1  Compare  the  observation  of  Lord  Penzance  in  the  recent  case  of 
Combe  v.  Edwards,  Law  Rep.  3  P.  I).  103,  120,  as  to  process  against 
the  queen. 

2  See  also  Archbishop  Lanfranc  v.  Bishop  Odo,  pp.  4,  8 ;  Abbot 
Walter  v.  Alan  do  Nevill,  p.  173. 

See  Land  of  William  de  S.,  and  Aluric  v.  Roger  Bigot,  in  the 
Appendix  (',  pp.  301,  305.  But  in  the  time  of  Bracton,  the  king's 
consent  to  the  voucher  was  necessary.  Bracton,  171  b,  261,  270  b, 
382  b.    See  Twiss,  Introd.  to  Bracton,  25,  26. 

4  See  upon  tin's  subject  an  interesting  and  learned  investigation 
by  Mr.  Justice  Gray,  in  Briggs  v.  Light-boats,  11  Allen,  157, 
166—171. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXX  \ 

the  Secondj  upon  suggestion  of  the  defendant  that  a 
certain  charter  of  Henry  the  First  had  been  improperly 
obtained,  taking  the  charter  into  his  own  hands,  turns 
to  the  defendant  with  the  exclamation,  "Per  oculos  Dei, 
si  cart  am  hane  falsam  comprobare  posses,  lucrum  mille 
librarum  milii  in  Anglia  conferres."  In  the  case  of  John, 
the  Marshall,  v.  Thomas  a  Becket,  p.  211,  the  same  king 
angrily  calls  upon  his  barons  to  pronounce  judgment 
against  the  defendant.  In  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  v. 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  p.  238,  baffled  by  the  production 
of  conflicting  title-deeds  by  the  plaintiff  and  the  de- 
fendant, the  same  king  says,  "  I  know  not  what  to  say, 
except  that  the  charters  are  at  war  with  each  other." 
And  when  in  the  same  ease  the  plaintiff  refused  to  sub- 
mit the  dispute  to  the  judgment  of  certain  counties,  the 
king  indignantly  leaves  the  court,  with  the  words,  "  Let 
him  take  who  can." 

The  queen  also  sat  in  the  courts  in  person,  in  the 
absence  of  the  king,  if  not  sometimes  when  he  was 
present ;  as  appears  by  the  case  of  the  Men  of  Periton 
V.  Abbot  Paritius,  99.  And  writs,  in  the  king's 
absence,  were  not  unfrequently  granted  in  her  name  :  as 
in  the  case  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Augustine's  Claim,  p.  33, 
and  in  the  case  of  Bishop  Ranulf  v.  Robert  de  Muscams, 
p.  137. 

The  superior  courts  for  the  administration  of  justice 
throughout  the  Norman  and  sub-Norman  period  are  the 
Great  Council  (corresponding  to  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Witenagemot,  and  still  occasionally  called  by  that 
name),  the  King's  Court,  and  the  Exchequer;  though 
the  latter  makes  no  appearance  as  a  judicial  organization 
until  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  The  Great  Council  con- 
tinues to  exist,  like  its  Anglo-Saxon  predecessor,  chiefly 

c  2 


xxxvi  [NTJtODTJCTION. 

as  a  deliberative  and  legislative  body,  acting  directly 
for  the  general  public  weal ;  but  it  is  also  often  turned 
into  service  as  a  tribunal  for  the  decision  of  questions 
arising  between  man  and  man,  or  between  the  king  and 
subject  as  an  individual.  Great  men  alone,  however, 
appear  to  have  enjoyed  the  right  of  trial  by  this  august 
body.  Cases  of  such  litigation  in  this  book  are  too 
numerous  for  special  mention.1  It  should  be  observed 
that  the  name  of  King's  Court  is  sometimes  given  to 
this  tribunal.2 

The  King's  Court,  composed  of  the  king  and  minis- 
ters attending  upon  him,  and  such  others  as  he  chose  to 
call  to  his  aid,  or  composed  of  special  delegates/  with  a 
jurisdiction  restrained  only  by  the  king's  will,  appears  on 
every  hand,  exercising  potential  influence.  But  the 
working  of  that  court  cannot  be  fitly  examined  here;  and 
we  must  pass  on  to  some  features  of  special  interest  at- 
taching to  the  Exchequer.  This  was  a  fiscus,  and  the 
body  composing  it  act  the  part  chiefly  of  fiscal  officers 
throughout  our  period.  The  name  "  Exchequer  "  does 
not  appear  in  the  reign  of  William  the  Conqueror  or  of 
Rufus,  the  term  "treasury"  being  uniformly  employed. 
And  it  is  altogether  likely  that  its  judicial  functions  be- 
fore the  reign  of  Henry  I.  were  confined,  with  rare  ex- 
ceptions, to  the  settlement  of  disputes  arising  upon 
claims  of  or  against  the  king's  treasurer  and  foresters. 
Under  the  first  Henry,  however,  the  Exchequer  appears 
by  that  name,  according  to  the  writ  in  Abbot  of  West- 
minster v.  Certain  Men,  p.  127  ;  and  it  appears  as  a  court 
in  which  common  pleas  might  be   tried.     In  the   same 

1  See  pp.  2,  11,  12,  83  (?),  94  (?),  210,  211,  213,  221,  220,  283. 

2  See  pp.  11,  12,  83  for  probable  examples. 

:i  Sec  The  Kin;/  >\  Abbot  of  Tavistock,  p.  (!'.'. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxvii 

reign,  about  the  year  1109,  the  abbot  of  Abingdon  (p.  99) 
recovers  judgment  "  in  thesauro  "  as  to  the  manor  of 
Lewknor.  In  the  14th  and  loth  years  of  Henry  II., 
Robert  de  Hasting-,  p.  269,  renders  account  before  the 
king's  treasurer  of  money  charged  against  him  for  con- 
tinuing a  plea  between  himself  and  Radulfus  Moin 
"usque  ad  Scaecarium  \"  and  in  the  16th  year  of  the 
same  reign  Hugh  Bardul,  p.  270,  renders  account  of  a 
charge  for  delay  of  a  recognition,  also  "  usque  ad  Scae- 
carium." In  the  18th  year  of  this  reign  Robert,  filius 
Ernisi,  p.  271,  is  said  to  owe  the  treasury  five  marks  for 
the  privilege  of  trying  a  case  before  the  justiciar  at  the 
Exchequer.  In  the  31st  year  of  Henry  II.,  Philip  de 
Kyma,  p.  278,  settles  a  charge  for  the  privilege  of 
deferring  a  private  suit  "  ad  Scaecarium  Paseha!."  In- 
deed, at  this  time  litigation  had  become  so  characteristic 
of  the  Exchequer,  that  the  entries  upon  the  Pipe  Rolls 
(in  which  the  proceedings  were  preserved)  were  sometimes 
entitled  "  De  placitis  ad  Scaecarium ;  " !  as  in  the  case  of 
Roger,  son  of  Everard,  p.  275. 

The  trial  of  common  pleas  in  the  Exchequer  was,  how- 
ever, probably  exceptional  throughout  the  period,  though 
growing  more  and  more  frequent  in  the  lapse  of  time. 
Its  jurisdiction  in  this  respect  was  doubtless  matter  of 
favour  on  the  part  of  the  king,  as  the  above  examples  in- 
dicate, and  not  a  matter  of  right.     Indeed  that  was  in  a 

1  The  fiscal  jurisdiction  of  the  Exchequer,  indeed,  alone  gave  a 
wide  range  of  litigation.  The  ordinary  settlements  made  with  the 
sheriffs  were  effected  by  means  of  judicial  process  in  the  nature  of  a 
writ  of  debt ;  delinquents  towards  the  king  in  the  King's  Court  were 
proceeded  against  in  the  Exchequer ;  purprestui-es  came  wit liiu  its 
cognizance ;  and  indeed  so  did  all  matters  touching  the  king"s 
revenue, — some  that  would  have  been  proper  for  the  Curia  Regis. 
See  the  Dialogue  of  the  Exchequer,  Stubbs's  Select  Charters,  pp.210, 
211,  22.",,  2U),  211. 


WWIll  IXTKOM  CTION. 

measure  true  also  of  the  King's  Court.  The  right  of 
parties  not  of  high  rank  to  sue  in  the  King's  Court 
must  have  been  purchased  ;  '  but  the  difference  was  that 
the  King's  Court  was  from  the  first  a  court  for  the  trial, 
in  part,  of  common  pleas;  while  the  Exchequer  never 
fully  became  such  until  the  invention  of  the  familiar 
fiction  of  later  times.2 

There  was  no  distinct  Court  of  Common  Pleas  during 
our  period ;  though  many  of  the  old  writers,  misled  by 
the  use  of  terms  in  GlanvilPand  other  authors,  have  sup- 
posed the  contrary.  To  constitute  such  a  court,  there 
must  have  been  either  a  distinct  judge  or  staff  of  judges, 
with  a  special  denomination,  or  the  judges  of  the  other 
courts  must  have  had  some  distinct  jurisdiction,  laid  off 
from  or  concurrent  with,  that  of  such  other  tribunals. 
Nothing  of  the  kind  appears  in  the  history  of  this 
period.  The  judges,  however,  sat  most  frequently  at 
Westminster  by  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  II., 
and  the  provision  of  Magna  Carta  as  to  "  communia 
placita  "  only  made  obligatory  and  certain  what  was  al- 
ready in  an  advanced  state  of  formation. 

To  attempt  to  speak  briefly  of  the  county,  hundred, 
and  private  courts  would  be  vain  ;  and  that  branch  of 
the  history  of  our  period  must  be  left,  with  the  subject 
of  procedure  generally,  for  consideration  at  another 
I  ime.4 

1  Hence  the  term  h!  ill  in  use  of " purchasing  a  writ." 

2  It  should  be  added  that  the  name  *' barones "  was  not  at  this 
time  confined  to  the  members  of  the  Exchequer,  even  when  used  of 
the  judges. 

:i  "  In  banco "  especially—  a  term  having  no  reference  at  this  time 
to  anj  particular  court  as  such.  It,  however,  was  probably  applied 
in  the  judges  who  sat  at  Westminster  in  distinction  from  others. 

4  The  working  of  these  courts  is  presented  in  scholarly  outline  in 
1  Stubbs's  Const.  Hist.  pp.  393  et  seq. 


LNTKODUCTION.  \\\i\ 

The  result  of  careful  study  will  show  that  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  during  the  period  of  this  book  was 
simple  and  inartificial,  but  for  the  most  part  efficient. 
The  machinery  of  the  courts  was  not  elaborate,  but  it 
was  suited  to  the  work  to  be  performed.  If  learning 
did  not  greatly  abound,  such  as  there  was  was  sufficient 
for  the  consideration  of  questions  arising  in  an  age  before 
rights  had  become  complicated  by  the  results  of  com- 
merce and  invention. 

In  some  particulars,  the  transition  period  was  much 
shorter  than  it  was  in  the  development  of  writs  and  the 
law  of  procedure  generally.  In  the  year  1101,  several 
cases  appear  of  actions  for  the  recovery  of  knights'  fees.1 
These  are  the  earliest  cases  of  actions  of  that  sort  on 
record  in  England,  and  they  indicate  a  settled  condition 
of  tenure.  But  in  the  note  to  the  Abbot  of  Abingdon  v. 
Anskill,  p.  62,  it  is  stated  on  the  authority  of  the  Abing- 
don Chronicle  that  the  defendant  was  at  the  time  of  the 
suit  a  tenant  of  the  monastery  by  knight  service,  and 
this  was  some  twelve  years  earlier  than  the  cases  just  re- 
ferred to ;  being  in  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of 
William  Rufus. 

Indeed  a  long  list  is  given  in  this  chronicle  of  tenants 
by  knight  service  upon  lands  of  the  monastery,  enfeoffed 
in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror.2  And  what  is 
quite  as  interesting,  the  reason  which  led  to  the  adop- 
tion of  the  tenure  in  this  particular  case  is  stated.  In 
the  disturbed  condition  of   things  following  upon  the 

1  Abbol  Faritiua  v.  William,  p.  75 ;  Abbot  Faritius  v.  Goscelin, 
p.  76  ;  Abbot  Faritius  v.  Nigel  de  Oilio,  ib. ;  Abbot  Faritius  v. Walter 
Giffard,  p.  78. 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  3  —  6  (Hoc.  Com.).  This  roll  shows  that 
the  amount  of  land  constituting  the  knight's  Ire  agreed  upon  was 
not  uniform,     h  probably  varied  with  Lhe  value  of  the  land. 


xl  (XTROOTCTION. 

advent  of  the  Normans,  it  became  necessary  to  call  for  a 
force  of  soldiery  to  protect  the  possessions  of  the  estab- 
lishment. At  first  the  abbot  (Adelelm)  employed 
stipendiaries;  but  after  the  disturbances  had  been  quelled, 
and  after  the  great  survey  had  determined  the  number 
of  men  that  mig*ht  be  required  of  the  abbey  for  military 
service,  these  stipendiaries  were  retained  and  turned  into 
tenants  by  knight  service,  vacant  lands  being  assigned 
to  them  upon  the  undertaking'  of  the  tenants  to  answer, 
when  called  upon,  for  each  one's  portion  ' 

Similar  circumstances  existing-  in  other  places,  it  is 
fair  to  presume  that  this  is  not  a  solitary  instance. 
Wherever  the  rich  possessions  of  the  church  or  laity 
were  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  lawless  bands,  the 
protection  of  the  military  would  naturally  be  sought; 
and  if  faithful  service  was  rendered,  the  soldiers  would 
be  permitted  to  become  tenants  of  any  vacant  lands 
when  their  services  were  no  longer  needed  as  soldiers. 
But  the  case  does  not  rest  upon  presumption.  It  appears 
by  Elton's  Tenures  of  Kent2  that  the  king  turned  his 
dreng  tenants3  into  knights  for  the  defence  of  the 
country,  and  that  archbishop  Lanfranc  did  likewise.4 

1  Abbas  mansiones  possessionum  ecclesiso  pertinentibrs  iiide  dele- 
gavit,  edioto  cnique  tenore  parondi  de  suae  portionis  inansione.  Hist. 
Abingd.  /'/  . ■■■"jira.  It  could  not  have  been  Adelelm  who  retained  the 
soldiers  ;i Her  Doomsday,  since  he  died  two  years  before  the  survey 
was  completed. 

-  pp.  68,  69;  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist.  2G2. 

3  As  to  dreng  tenure,  see  the  Preface. 

4  Quia  vero  non  eranl  adhuc  tempore  regis  Willelmi  [primi]  milites 
in  Anglia,  sed  fchrenges,  prajcepit  rex  ut  de  eis  milites  fierent  ad 
terram  defendendam.  Fecil  autem  Lanfrancus threngos suos  milites; 
monachi  yero  id  non  fecerunt  sed  de  portions  sua  ducentas  librataa 
ii  rrae  dedermrl  archiepiscopo,  ut  per  milites  suos  terras  eorum  defen- 
doret  et  omnia  negotia  eorum  apud  curiam  Romanam  suis  expensis 
expediret,  undo  adhuc  in  tota  terra  monachorum  nullus  miles  est, 
sed  in  terra  arcbiepiscopi.     Stubbs,  ut  sv/pra. 


I\  I  UODl'CTION. 


However,  the  record  of  Doomsday  has  been  thought 
to  be  a  check  upon  any  generalizations  founded  upon 
the  state  of  things  existing-  before  the  survey.1  There 
are  numerous  references  to  "milites"  in  Doomsday; 
but  the  term  is  very  rarely  used  as  descriptive  of  tenure. 
Of  over  a  hundred  passages  carefully  examined,  in  which 
"  milites "  are  said  to  hold  lands,  there  are  but  two 
passages  in  which  there  is  anjr  clear  indication  that  the 
tenure  was  knight  service.2  And  the  first  of  these  may 
only  mean  that  the  land  was  to  furnish  a  soldier.  The 
other  passage,  however,  is  clear.  This  fact  would  seem 
at  first  conclusive  that  knight  service  was  extremely 
rare  and  exceptional ;  but  the  truth  is,  Doomsday  does 
not  always  disclose  the  tenure  by  which  the  holders  of 
land  were  possessed.  And  the  lands  of  Abingdon  furnish 
conclusive  evidence  on  this  point.  The  Doomsday  record, 
for  example,  simply  declares  that  "  Gilbert  holds  of  the 
abbot  seven  hides  and  a  half  in  Garsington  •"*  but  the 
Abingdon  Chronicle  states  that  Gilbert  held  this  par- 
ticular land  by  knight  service.4  The  same  person  is 
referred  to  again  directly  afterwards  as  holding  in 
Sueting  a  hide  and  a  half  of  the  abbot,  without  mention 
of  the  service;  but  the  chronicle  says  that  he  held  this 
also  by  knight  service.5  Anskill  who  appears  as  de- 
fendant in  a  case  already  referred  to,6  is  mentioned  in 
Doomsday  as  holding  a  hide  of  land  in  Marcham  of  the 


1  Digby,  Hist.  Keal  Prop.  39;  5  Freeman,  Norman  Conq.  (Oxford 
ed.)  370,  371  ;  ib.  Appendix,  note  HH. ;  3  Palgrave,  Normandy  and 
England,  609  et  seq. 

2  [Cumbe]  tempore  regis  Edwardi  valebat  LX.  sol.  et  postea  L.  sol. 
Modo  II II.  lib.  et  servitium  unius  militis.  1  Doomsd.  10  b.  Illc  qui 
tenet  de  Wadardo,  reddit  ei  L.  sol.  et  servitium  unius  militis.     lb.  ;i2. 

:)  1  Doomsd.  156  b.  4  2  Hist.  Abingd.  p.  5.  5  Ib. 

*  Abbot  of  Abingdon  r.  Anskill,  p.  62. 


xlii  INTRODUCTION. 

abbot ;'  but  bis  holding  is  by  knight  service,  according 
to  the  chronicle.  Rainbaldus  is  merely  stated  in  Dooms- 
day to  hold  of  the  abbot  one  bide  in  Tobenie  ;'  but  the 
chronicle  again  states  that  the  tenure  is  knight  service. 
Doomsday  states  that  Hubert  held  in  Witham  five  hides  of 
the  abbot  :3  the  chronicle  states  that  he  held  them  by 
knight  service.  And  many  more  cases  to  the  same  effect. 
Doomsday  therefore  does  not  stand  in  the  way  of  the 
assertion  of  the  wide  prevalence  of  knight  service,  in 
perfect  development,  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror. 

The  Anglo-Saxon  heriot  lived  on  beside  the  Norman 
relief  frelevamen,  relevamentum)  for  a  considerable  time, 
making  a  faint  appearance  in  Doomsday.4  The  heriot 
was  in  principle  the  return  at  death  of  the  outfit  given 
a  man  by  his  lord  when  the  relationship  of  lord  and  man 
was  assumed.5  The  relief,  however,  which  superseded  it 
was  a  payment  by  the  heir  to  his  lord,  in  knightly 
equipments,  or  money,6  for  the  privilege  of  being  in- 
vested (raised,  relevare)  with  the  estate  of  his  ancestor. 
It  is  certain  that  there  was  for  considerable  time  con- 
fusion between  the  two  ideas,  as  well  as  in  the  names; 
the  Anglo-Saxon  term  being  employed  for  the  Norman 
institution.7 

References  to  the  relief  are  numerous  in  Doomsday  :s 
but  the  most  interesting  example  of  it  is  found  in  a  writ 
of  liui'us  given  by  Homing,  a  monk  of  Worcester  at  that 

1   1  Doomsd.  58  ^.  2  lb.  3   lb. 

4  Deharieta  lagemannorum  habuil  isdem  Picol  VIII.  libraa  et  iinum 
palefridum  et  nnius  militis  anna.  1  Doomsd.  189.  See  also  pp.  30  b, 
56  b,  280  b,  2!ts  b,  where,  however,  the  relief  is  meant,  though  called 
heriot.  1  Ellis,  [ntrod.  271  ;  5  Freeman,  Norm.  Conq.  Appendix, 
i  I.  This  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  heriol  of  copyhold 
tenure  in  modern  i  inns ;  as  to  which  sec  2  Black.  Com.  97,  I2:'>. 

■•  2  Black  Cora.  t23.  It  came  in  time,  however,  to  be  dischargeable 
by  a  money  payment.  '    ll>.  56.  '•    Note  t,  supra.  i   IK. 


INTRODUCTION.  xliii 

time.1  The  interest  attaching  to  it  arises  in  part  from 
the  fact  that  it  calls  for  money  alone,  and  not  for  the 
equipments  of  a  knight.  This  possibly  is  explainable 
on  the  ground  that  it  is  exacted  from  tenants  of  the 
church,  the  occasion  of  it  being  the  death  of  Wulfstan, 
bishop  of  Worcester;  but  the  more  probable  explanation, 
in  part  is,  that  it  was  owing  to  the  rapacity  of  liufus, 
stimulated  by  his  ready  chaplain  and  minister,  Ilanulf 
Flambard,  who  witnesses  the  instrument.  Besides,  by 
this  time,  money  payments  of  the  relief,  if  not  the  rule, 
were  not  uncommon. 

The  writ  affords  a  striking  example  of  the  purposes  to 
which  the  relief  could  be  pressed  by  an  unprincipled 
monarch  or  minister.2  The  lands  of  the  church  are  not 
only  taken  into  the  king's  hand,  but  the  tenants  of  the 

1  The  writ  is  as  follows :  W.  rex  Anglorum.  omnibus  Francis  et 
Anglis  qui  francas  terras  tenent  de  episcopatu  de  Wireceastra,  salu- 
teni.  Scitis,  quia,  mortus  episcopo,  honor  in  mauum  meam  rediit. 
Nunc  volo,  ut  de  terris  vestris  tale  relevamcn  mihi  detis,  sicut  per 
barones  meos  disposui.  Hugo  de  Laci,  XX.  libras;  Walterus  Punh, 
XX.  libras ;  Gislebertus,  filius  Turoldi,  C.  solidos;  Bodbertus  epis- 
copus,  X.  libras  ;  Abbas  de  Euesham,  XXX.  libras ;  Walterus  de 
Gloecester,  XX.  libras;  Roger,  filius  Dur.,  X.  libras;  Winebald  de 
Balaon,  X.  libras;  Drogo,  filius  Pontii,  X.  libras;  Rodbert,  filius 
Sckilin,  C.  solidos  ;  Eodbert  Stirmannus,  LX.  solidos  ;  Anschitillus 
de  Colesburna,  X.  libras  ;  Rogerus  de  Cumtune,  XX.  solidos  ;  Eudo, 
I.X.  solidos  ;  Willelmus  de  Begebiri,  XL.  solidos;  Ricardus  et  Franca, 
C.  solidos  ;  Angotus,  XX.  solidos ;  Beraldus,  XX.  solidos ;  Willelmns 
de  Wic,  XX.  solidos  ;  Rodbertus,  filius  Nigelli,  C.  solidos  ;  Alricus 
archidiaconus,  C.  solidus  ;  Ordricus  dapifer,  XL.  libras;  Ordricus 
Blaca,  C.  solidos;  Colemannus,  XL.  solidos;  Warinus,  XXX.  solidos; 
Balduuinus,  XL.  solidos;  Suegen,  filius  Azor,  XX.  solidos;  Aluredus, 
XXX.  solidos;  Suinardus,  XL.  solidos  ;  Saulfus,  XV.  libras  ;  Algarus, 
XL.  solidos;  Chippingus,  XX.  solidos.  Testibus  Ranulfo  capellano, 
et  Eudone  dapifero,  <i  Orson  de  Abetot.  Et  qui  hoc  facere  noluerit, 
Urso  et  Bernardus  sai[si]ant  et  terras  et  pecunias  in  mann  raea. 

-  Mr.  Freeman  attributes  all  the  abuses  of  this  nature  of  the  reign 
of  Hufus  to  the  cunning  of  Flambard.  5  Norman  Conq.  (Oxford  ed.) 
131—134;  ib.  Appendix,  Note  1111. 


>.liv  INTRODUCTION. 

church  are  required  in  the  meantime  to  become  the 
king's  tenants  (that  is  the  meaning  of  the  writ),  not  for 
any  good  to  them,  but  to  fill  his  hoard.  The  example  is 
sufficient  to  explain  the  promise  of  Henry  I.  to  exact 
only  a  "just  and  legal  relief"  from  his  subjects/  and  to 
show  the  rapidity  of  development  of  all  that  was  most 
objectionable  in  English  feudal  tenure.2 

In  the  year  1177,  a  question  arose  between  the  eldest 
son  of  Hugh  Bigot  by  his  first  wife,  and  an  only  son  by 
his  second  wife,  upon  the  death  of  the  father,  as  to  the 
right  to  property  acquired  by  Hugh  through  purchase, 
each  offering  a  large  sum  to  the  king,  iu  the  nature  of  a 
relief,  the  younger  son  claiming  such  property  by  gift; 
but  the  king  not  being  able  or  disposed  to  decide  at 
once,  appoints  a  day  for  hearing  the  parties,  in  the  mean- 
time taking  the  estate,  as  usual,  into  his  own  hands.3 

In  his  valuable  book  on  the  history  of  real  property 
law,  Mr.  Digby  has  ventured  the  statement  that  freedom 
of  alienation  inter  vivos  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
curtailed  until  the  passage  of  the  Statute  De  Don  is  Con- 
ditionalibus,  in  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  with  two  unim- 
portant exceptions.  "There  is  no  trace/'  he  says,  "  of  a 
license  being  required  for  the  alienation  of  lands  held  of 
a  mesne  lord."4  Several  cases  in  this  book  indicate  that 
alienation  inter  vivos  was  not  free  and  unrestricted  in 
our  period,  by  tenants  as  against  their  lords.5     In  Abbot 

1  Stnbbs's  Select  Charters,  97. 

2  As  to  the  extent  to  which  Rufus  availed  himself  of  "analogy" 
to  enrich  his  coffers,  see  5  Freeman,  Norman  Conq.  (Oxford  ed.) 
131—134. 

s  The  Widow  and  the  Eldest  Son  of  Hugh  Bigot,  p.  230. 
1   Hist.  Real  Prop.  199  (2nd  ed.). 

5  Restriction  upon  alienation,  in  the  interest  of  the  heir,  existed  at 

li  ast  as  early  as  I  be  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  when  the 

ailed  law.-  of  Henry  I.  were  collected.     "Prime-  patris  feodam 


INTRODUCTION.  \lv 

Walter  v.  Gilbert  de  Baillol,  !>•  175,  the  plaintiff  is 
stated  to  have  acquired  the  land  in  dispute  from  a  tenant 
of  Barnhorne  with  consent  of  his  over-lord  Withela'rd  d<> 
Baillol ;  and  in  Abbot  Hamlin  v.  Earl  William,  p.  1S2, 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  testifies  concerning"  the 
grant  of  a  church  by  Robert  de  II.,  with  consent  of  his 
lord.1  Indeed  the  numerous  confirmations  by  over-lords 
throughout  this  period  were  no  doubt  sought  quite  as 
much  by  a  prudent  fear  of  the  claims  of  the  over-lord 
as  for  protection  against  the  rapacity  of  others. 

Apart  from  such  cases  as  the  above,  lands  held  in 
commendation,  of  which  there  are  numerous  instances  in 
this  book,2  must  not  be  overlooked  in  studying  the  his- 
tory of  alienation.  Doomsday  is  replete  with  cases  in 
which  freemen  who  have  commended  themselves  to  others 
for  protection  cannot  sell  their  lands  without  consent.3 
And  the  same  was  true  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  period. 

primogenitus  filius  habeat ;  emptiones  vero,  vel  cleinceps  acquisiciones 
suas  det  cui  magis  velit.  Si  bocland  habeat  quam  ei  parentes  dede- 
rint,  non  mittat  earn  extra  cognacionem  suam."  Hen.  I.  c.  70,  §  21 . 
This  privilege  had  been  further  narrowed  by  the  time  of  Glanvill. 
See  lib.  7,  c.  3. 

1  Compare  also  Abbot  Gilbert  v.  Earl  Gilbert,  p.  150. 

2  Status  of  a  Certain  Freeman,  p.  43  ;  Lands  claimed  by  the  Bishop 
of  Bayeux,  pp.  45,  46.  See  also  Doomsday  Inquisitions  in  the  Appen- 
dix C. 

3  See,  for  example,  the  case  of  Land  held  by  a  Certain  Freeman, 
p.  45.  "  In  Dentuna  XII.  socmanni  .  .  .  .  et  habebant  XL.  acras,  quod 
nee  dare  nee  vendere  poterant  terram  suam  extra  ecclesiam." 
2  Doomsd.  138  b.  "  In  Brodiso  XXVIII.  liberi  homines  ....  tempore 
regis  Eduardi  ....  Nee  dare  nee  vendere  poterant  sine  licentia  Sti- 
gandi,  qui  socam  habebat."  lb.  139,  139  b.  The  same,  however, 
might  perhaps  be  said  of  lands  held  on  lease. 

Mr.  Digby  probably  leaves  cases  of  commendation  out  of  view  in 
his  remark,  referring  only  to  the  ordinary  case  of  tenure. 


xlvi  INTRODUCTION. 

SOURCES  OF  MATERIALS   USED;  ALSO 
AUTHORITIES  CITED. 

[Materials  are  drawn  from  those  works  not  stated  to  be  "  cited."  ] 

Abingdon.  Chroaicon Monasterii  de  Abingdon.  Edited 
by  Rev.  Joseph  Stevenson,  and  published  by  the  Record 
Commissioners.  London,  1858.  2  vols.  The  chronicle 
consists  mainly  of  charters,  valuable,  but  rather  loosely 
strung  together;  the  second  volume  covering  the  period 
from  the  Norman  Conquest  to  the  reign  of  Richard  I. 
Many  of  the  charters  are  also  printed  in  the  Monasticon. 
See  infra.  This  chronicle  might  properly  have  been 
cited  as  Chron.  Mon.  Abingd.,  instead  of  Hist.  Mon. 
Abingd. ;  but  the  latter  citation  serves  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicon  Abbendonias.  Besides, 
the  present  work  is  sometimes  entitled  "  Historia  Monas- 
terii de  Abingdon."  See  Stephenson's  preface  to  vol.  1, 
p.  14.  It  is  proper  to  observe,  both  of  this  chronicle 
and  of  others,  that  the  author  prepared  his  history  of 
antecedent  times  from  the  parchment  records  and  docu- 
ments of  his  monastery  or  office,  and  that  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  this  was  faithfully  done,  with  a 
few  well-known  exceptions,  such  as  in  the  case  of  the 
so-called  Ingulfs  Chronicle  of  Crowland. 

Atl 'i ins,.     See  Essays  in  Anglo-Saxon  Law. 

Allen  (Charles).  Reports  of  cnses  argued  and  deter- 
mined in  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
Boston,  1869.     Vol.  2  cited. 

Allen  (John).  Inquiry  into  the  Rise  and  Growth 
of  the  Royal  Prerogative  in  England.  By  John  Allen. 
A  new  ed.     London,  1819.     Cited. 


[INTRODUCTION,  xlvii 

Ancient  Lavs  and  Institutes  of  England.  By  Ben- 
jamin Thorpe.     London,  1840.     Cited. 

Anglia  Sacra,  sive  Collectio  Historiarum  ....  de 
Archiepiscopo  et  Episcopo  Anglise.  Edited  by  Henry 
Wharton.  London,  1G9J.  2  vols.  A  storehouse  of 
early  English  histories. 

Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle.  Edited  hy  Benjamin  Thorpe, 
and  published  by  the  Record  Commissioners.  London, 
1861.     2  vols.     Cited. 

Anglo-Saxon  Laiv.  See  Ancient  Laws  and  Institutes; 
Essays  in  Anglo-Saxon  Law;  Wilkins. 

Annates  cle  Burton.     See  Annales  Monastici. 

Annates  Monastici.  Containing",  inter  alia,  the  Annales 
de  Burton,  in  which  is  given  the  Provisions  of  Oxford. 
Published  by  the  Record  Commissioners,  and  edited  by 
H.  R.  Luard.    London.     Cited. 

Antiquitates  Alto-Scandicm.  Edited  by  Rev.  James 
Johnstone.     Copenhagen,  1786. 

Assizes  of  Clarendon  and  Northampton.  In  Stubbs's 
Select  Charters.     See  infra. 

Augustine,  Saint.  Historia  Monasterii  S.  Augustini 
Cantuariensis.  By  Thomas  of  Elmham,  Monk  and 
Treasurer  of  that  foundation.  Edited  by  Charles 
Hardwick,  and  published  by  the  Record  Commissioners. 
London,  1858.     Contains  many  valuable  charters. 

Baitelg.  Antiquitates  S.  Edmundi  Burgi.  By  John 
Battely,  archdeacon  of  Canterbury.     Oxford,  1745. 

Bello.  Chronicon  Monasterii  de  Bello.  Anglia  Chris- 
tiana Soc.  London,  1846.  A  history  of  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  monastery  founded  by  William  the  Conqueror  at 
Senlac,  in  commemoration  of  his  victory  over  Harold, 
extending  to  the  year  1176.  Of  great  value  in  legal 
history. 


xlviii  INTRODUCTION. 

Benedict  its.  Gesta  Reg-is  Henrici  Secundi  Benedicti 
Abbatis.  Edited  by  Professor  Stubbs,  and  published 
by  the  Record  Commissioners.  London,  ]  867.  2  vols. 
The  Chronicle  covers  the  period  from  1169  to  1192,  and 
is  to  be  compared  with  Roger  de  Hovenden.  See  infra. 
Like  Roger,  his  continuator,  Benedict  held  judicial 
office  under  Henry  II.,  and  had  the  amplest  means  of 
correct  information.     As  an  authority  he  is  of  the  best. 

Blackstone.  Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of  England. 
By  Sir  William  Blackstone.     Cited. 

Br  acton.  Henrici  de  Bracton  de  Legibus  et  Consue- 
tudinibus  Anglia?.  London,  1610.  A  new  edition, 
published  by  the  Record  Commissioners,  and  edited  by 
Sir  Travers  Twiss.  London,  1878.  Only  1  vol.  yet 
issued,  covering  but  71  folios  of  the  old  ed.  Bracton, 
being  subsequent  to  the  period  covered  by  this  book,  is 
cited  only. 

Brady.  An  introduction  to  the  old  English  History. 
By  Robert  Brady.  London,  1684.  3  vols.  Violently 
polemical,  but  containing  valuable  records. 

Brakelond.  Chronica  Jocelini  de  Brakelonda,  de 
Rebus  Gestis  Samsonis  Abbatis  Monasterii  Sancti  Ed- 
mundi.  Edited  by  John  Gage  Rokewode,  and  published 
by  the  Camden  Soc.  London,  1840.  Covers  the  years 
1173 — 1202,  and  is  valuable  in  legal  matters. 

Brompton's  Chronicle.  In  Twysden's  X.  Scriptores. 
See  infra. 

Brunner.  Die  Entstehung  der  Schwurgerichte.  By 
Dr.  Heinrich  Brunner.     Berlin,  1871.     Cited. 

Codex  Diplomatics .     See  Kemble. 

Coke.  The  Reports  of  Sir  Edward  Coke.  London, 
1826.     Part  10  cited. 

Dasent.     See  Njal-Saga. 


INTRODUCTION.  xlix 

JJialogue  of  the  Exchequer.  An  invaluable  document 
b}r  Richard,  bishop  of  London,  and  Treasurer  to  king 
Henry  II.  Printed  in  Madox's  History  of  the  Ex- 
chequer, and  more  conveniently  for  use  in  Stubbs's 
Select  (■barters.     Cited. 

Digby.  An  Introduction  to  the  History  of  the  Law 
of  Real  Property.  By  Kenelm  Edward  Digby.  2nd  ed. 
Oxford,  1877.     Cited. 

Doomsday  Booh,  seu  Liber  Censualis  Willelmi  Primi 
Regis  Anglise.  Published  by  the  English  Government, 
1783.  2  vols.  To  these  vols.,  known  as  the  Exchequer 
Doomsday,  were  added  two  others  in  1816;  the  first 
(or  vol.  3)  containing  Indices  and  an  "  Introduction 
to  Doomsday"  by  Sir  Henry  Ellis;  the  second  (or 
vol.  4)  containing  the  Exon  Doomsday,  the  Inquisitio 
Eliensis,  the  Liber  Wintoniensis,  and  the  Boldon 
Book.  The  Exchequer  Doomsday  (with  the  Exon 
Doomsday  and  the  Inquisitio  Eliensis,  which  are 
composed  of  the  original  returns  of  the  census  com- 
missions as  to  Exeter  and  Ely)  is,  in  a  word,  the 
Great  Survey  of  England  by  William  the  Conqueror, 
begun  according  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle  in 
10S5,  and  completed  in  1086.  The  survey  was  made 
for  fiscal  purposes,  and  enumerated  most  of  the  pro- 
perty and  tenantry  of  England,  the  four  northern 
counties  excepted.  It  was  an  Inquisition  (in  an  accurate 
sense)  upon  a  great  scale.  Questions  of  title  to  land 
and  to  services,  and  disputes  over  the  status  of  persons, 
were  of  constant  occurrence  before  the  Commissioners ; 
and  the  results  are  briefly  stated.  The  text  is  unfortu- 
nately printed  with  all  the  contractions  of  the  MS., 
rendering  the  book  useless  to  all  except  persistent 
students.     It   is   the  most   valuable   monument  of   the 

d 


1  INTE0D1  CTION. 

Norman  time.  For  a  full  account  of  it,  see  the  first 
chapter  in  vol.  5  of  Freeman's  Norman  Conquest. 

Dug  dale.     See  Monasticon. 

Badmeri  Monachi  Cantuariensis  Historic  Novorum 
sive  sui  Soeculi.  Edited  by  John  Selden.  London, 
162 '3.  Eadmer  was  contemporary  with  William  I., 
Rufus,  and  Henry  I.     A  leading-  authority. 

Ecclesiastical  Documents.  A  brief  History  of  the 
Bishopric  of  Somerset  from  its  Foundation  to  the  year 
1174.  By  Rev.  Joseph  Hunter.  Published  by  the 
Camden  Soc.     London,  1840.     Of  some  legal  interest. 

Edmund,  Saint.     See  Battely ;  Brakelond. 

Eliensis.  Liber  Eliensis  ad  Fidem  Codicum  Variorum. 
Published  by  the  Anglia  Christiana  Soc.  London,  1848. 
Quite  different  from  Gale's  edition  in  the  XV.  Scriptores. 
The  Anglo-Saxon  charters  are  not  reliable. 

Ellis.  A  General  Introduction  to  Doomsday  Book. 
By  Sir  Henry  Ellis.     2nd  ed.     London,  18-33.     Cited. 

Essays  in  Anglo-Saxon  Law.  By  Henry  Adams  and 
others.     Boston,  IS 7 (3.     Cited. 

Evesham.  Chronicon  Abbatiae  de  Evesham  ad  annum 
1418.  Edited  by  William  Dunn  Macray,  and  published 
by  the  Record  Commissioners.  London,  1 803.  Contains 
but  little  relating-  to  the  Norman  period,  but  this  little 
valuable.     See  pp.  20 — 22. 

Fitzlterhert.  Le  Graunde  Abridgement  [of  the  Year 
Books].  By  Anthony  Fitzherbert.  London,  1577. 
Cited. 

Florence  of  Worcester.  Florentii  Wigornensis  Mo- 
nachi  Chronicon  ex  Chronicis  ....  usque  ad  annum 
1117.  With  continuations  to  1295.  Edited  by  Ben- 
jamin Thorpe,  and  published  by  the  English  Historical 
Soc.     London,  1818.     Good  authority. 


INTRODUCTION  li 

Foss.  The  Judges  of  England.  By  Edward  Foss. 
9  vols.     London.     Vol.  1  cited. 

Freeman.  The  History  of  the  Norman  Conquest  of 
England,  its  Causes  and  its  Results.  By  Edward  A. 
Freeman.     5  vols.     Oxford,  1873—6.     Cited. 

Gale.  Historiae  Brittanicse,  Saxonica>,  Anglo-Danicse 
Scriptores  XV.  Edited  by  Thomas  Gale,  and  published 
at  Oxford,  1691.  The  reports  of  Anglo- Saxon  trials  in 
the  histories  of  Ramsey  and  Ely  are  not  reliable. 

Gervase  of  Dover.  Chronicle  in  Twysden's  X.  Scrip- 
tores.     See  infra. 

Gesta  Henry  II.     See  Benedictus. 

Glanvill.  Tractatus  de  Legibus  et  Consuetudinibus 
Regni  Anglias,  Tempore  Regis  Henrici  Secundi  com- 
positus.  Printed  in  full  at  the  end  of  Phillips's  Englische 
Reichs-  und  Rechtsgeschichte.  Also  London,  1604,  and 
1780.     Translated  by  John  Beames,  London,  1812. 

Gloucester.  Historia  et  Cartularium  Monasterii  Sancti 
Petri  Gloucestrise.  Edited  by  William  Henry  Hart, 
and  published  by  the  Record  Commissioners,  London, 
1863.     3  vols.     Contains  valuable  charters. 

Giiterbock.  Henricus  de  Bracton  und  sein  Verhaltniss 
zum  Romischen  Rechte.  Berlin,  1862.  By  Carl  Giiter- 
bock. Translated  by  Brinton  Coxe.  Philadelphia,  1866. 
Cited. 

Ilearne.  See  Heming;  Liber  Niger;  Textus  Rof- 
fensis. 

Hemingi  Chartularium  Ecclesise  Wigornensis.  Edited 
by  Thomas  Hearne.  Oxford,  1723.  Heming  was  a 
monk  of  Worcester,  temp.  William  I.,  William  II., 
and  Henry  I.     Contains  many  valuable  charters. 

Henry  I,  Laws  of.     See  Ancient  Laws  and  Institutes. 

Henry  II.,  Gesla.     See  Benedictus. 
d  2 


Ill  IXTKOIH  (  TIOX. 

Iliches.  Georgii  Hickesii  .  .  .  Dissertatio  Epistolaris 
ad  Bartholomeura  Showere.  Oxford,  1703.  Contains 
valuable  charters  ami  records. 

ffistoria  Novorum.     See  Eadmcr. 

Holzendorff.  Encyclopadie  der  Rechtswissensclia ft. 
By  Dr.  Franz  von  Holzendorff.     Leipsic,  1877.     Cited. 

Holzendorff.  Rechtslexikon.  13y  the  same.  Leipsic, 
L875.     Cited. 

Hovenden.  Chronica  Magistri  Rogeri  de  Houedene. 
Edited  by  Professor  Stubbs,  and  published  by  the 
Record  Commissioners,  London,  1868.  4  vols.  The 
author  was  one  of  the  Court  clerks,  and  a  justiciar 
under  Henry  II.  A  higTi  authority.  See  Benedietus, 
supra.  A  translation  by  Henry  T.  Riley,  in  the  Bohn 
series.     London,  1853. 

Kemble.  Codex  Diplomaticns  iEvi  Saxonici.  Edited 
by  John  M.  Kemble,  and  published  by  the  English 
Historical  Soc.  London,  1839—1849.  6  vols.  A  col- 
lection of  most  of  the  existing  Anglo-Saxon  charters 
from  the  earliest  times  to  the  Norman  Conquest.     Cited. 

Laiv  Reports.  Probate  and  Divorce.  London,  1875. 
Vol.  3  cited. 

Leading  Cases  on  Torts,  with  historical  and  other  notes. 
By  Melville  M.  Bigelow.     Boston,  1875.     Cited. 

Liber  Niger  Scaccarii.  Edited  by  Thomas  Hearne. 
London,  1774.  2  vols.'  Vol.  1  largely  composed  <>f 
let  urns  of  knights'  fees  by  tenants  in  capite,  made  to 
Henry  IT.,  on  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  his  daughter 
Matilda  to  the  duke  of  Saxony.     Cited. 

Madox.  The  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  Ex- 
chequer of  the  Kings  in  England  ....  From  the  Nor- 
man Conquest.  By  Thomas  Madox.  London,  1711. 
Fol.  ed.     A  monument  of  industry,  a  great  repertoire  of 


INTRODUCTION.  liii 

documents  relating  not  only  to  the  Exchequer,  but  also 
to  the  King's  Court  and  to  the  private  jurisdictions. 

Monasticon  Anglicanvm  :  a  History  of  the  Abbeys 
and  other  Monasteries,  Hospitals,  Friaries,  and  Cathedral 
and  Collegiate  Churches,  with  their  Dependencies,  in 
England  and  Wales.  By  Sir  William  Dugdale.  Last 
ed.  London,  1846.  8  vols,  in  6.  The  richest  collection 
in  England  of  charters  and  documents  of  the  11th  and 
12th  centuries. 

Njal-Siiga.  The  story  of  Burnt  Njal.  Translated 
from  the  Icelandic  by  George  Webbe  Dasent.  Edin- 
burgh, 1861.     Cited. 

Orderici  Vitalis  Angligenaj,  Cajnobii  Uticensis  Mo- 
nachi  Historian  Ecclesiastics.  Edited  by  Augustus  Le 
Provost,  and  published  by  the  French  Historical  Soc. 
Paris,  1838.  5  vols.  Orderic  flourished  in  the  12th 
century.     Good  authority. 

Olaf  Try ggrasonar -Saga.  In  Antiquitates  Celts-Scan- 
dicae.     See  supra. 

Palgrave.  The  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  English 
Commonwealth.  By  Francis  Palgrave.  London,  1832. 
2  vols.  Vol.  2  contains  valuable  documents  as  proofs 
and  illustrations  of  vol.  1. 

Palgrave.  History  of  Normandy  and  England.  By 
the  same.  London,  1851 — 64.  Reprinted,  London, 
1878.     Cited. 

Phillips.  Englische  Reiehs-  und  Rechtsgeschichte 
seit  der  Ankunft  der  Normannen  im  Jahre  1066  nach 
Christi  Geburt.     By  George  Phillips.     Berlin,  1827. 

Reeves.  History  of  the  English  Law  from  the  Time 
of  the  Romans  to  the  End  of  the  Reign  of  Elizabeth. 
By  J.  Reeves.  5  vols.  A  new  ed.,  edited  by  W.  F. 
Finlason,  in  3  vols.     London,  1869.     Cited. 


liv  INTRODUCTION. 

Registrum  Roffensi :  or  a  Collection  of  Ancient 
Records,  Charters,  and  Instruments  of  divers  kinds, 
necessary  for  illustrating-  the  Ecclesiastical  History  and 
Antiquities  of  the  Diocese  and  Cathedral  Church  of 
Rochester.  By  John  Thorpe.  London,  1769.  Valu- 
able. 

Rotuli  Curia  Regis.  Rolls  and  Records  of  the  Court 
held  before  the  King's  Justiciars  or  Justices.  Edited  by 
Sir  Francis  Palgrave,  and  published  by  the  Record 
Commissioners.  London,  1835.  2  vols.  The  time 
covered  is  from  6  Richard  I.  to  1  John.  Printed  with 
the  contractions  of  the  MS. 

Schmid.  Die  Gesetze  der  Angelsachsen.  By  Dr.  Rein- 
hold  Schmid.  2nd  ed.  Leipsic,  1858.  Contains  an 
invaluable  glossary.    Cited. 

Selden.     See  Eadmer. 

Spelman.  Glossarium  Archaiologicum.  By  Henry 
Spelman.     London,  1687.     Cited. 

Statutes  at  Large.     London,  1811.     Vol.  1  cited. 

Stubbs.  The  Constitutional  History  of  England  in 
its  Origin  and  Development.  By  Prof.  William  Stubbs. 
3  vols.     Oxford,  1875—7.     Cited. 

Stubbs.  Select  Charters  and  other  Illustrations  of 
English  Constitutional  History  from  the  earliest  Times 
to  the  Reign  of  Edward  the  First.  By  the  same. 
2nd  ed.     Oxford,  1174.     Cited. 

Textus  Roffensis :  a  Register  or  Chartulary  of  Rochester 
Cathedral.  Edited  by  Thomas  Hearne.  Oxford,  1720. 
Written  about  the  year  1120  by  Ernulf,  bishop  of 
Rochester  ;  with  later  additions.  Of  great  value.  The 
MS.  contains  also  the  Laws  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Kings. 

Thome's  Chronicle.  In  Twysden's  X.  Scriptores. 
See  infra. 


INTRODUCTION.  lv 

Thorpe  (Benjamin).  See  Ancient  Laws  and  Insti- 
tutes;   Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle. 

Thorpe  (Benjamin).  Diplomatarium  Anglicum  M\'\ 
Saxoniei.  A  Collection  of  English  Charters  from  the 
Reign  of  King  iEthelberht  of  Kent,  a.d.  605,  to  that  of 
William  the  Conqueror.  By  Benjamin  Thorpe.  London, 
1865. 

Thorpe  (John).     See  Registrum  Roffense. 

Twysden.  Historian  Anglicans  Scriptores  X.  Ex  Ve- 
tustis  Manuscriptis.  By  Roger  Twysden.  London,  1652. 
Useful. 

Wendover,  llogeri  de,  Chronica,  sive  Flores  Histori- 
arum.  Edited  by  Henry  0.  Coxe,  and  published  by  the 
English  Historical  Soc.     London,  1841.     Valuable. 

Wharton.     See  Anglia  Sacra. 

Wilkins.  Leges  Anglo-Saxoniese  Ecclesiastics  et 
Civiles.     By  David  Wilkins.     London,  1721. 

Year  Books  of  Reign  of  Edward  III.  London,  1679. 
Vol.  2  cited. 

There  are  other  chronicles  and  histories  of  the  Nor- 
man and  Angevin  period  which  contain  materials 
useful  for  the  study  of  legal  history  ;  but  none  of  them 
now  known  contain  reliable  "reports"  of  litigation. 
All  have  been  carefully  examined.  For  some  account 
of  the  MSS.  of  such  of  the  above  chartularies  as  extend 
back  into  the  Anglo-Saxon  period,  the  learned  reader  is 
referred  to  the  preface  to  vol.  6  of  Kemble's  Codex 
Diplomaticus. 


lvi 


William  I. 
William  II. 
Henvy  I. 
Stephen 
Henry  II. 
Richard  I. 


INTRODUCTION. 

REGNAL  YEARS. 


106G— 1087 
1087—1100 
1100—1135 
1135—1154 
1154—1189 
1189—1199 


THE   KING'S   JUSTICIARS   AND  CHAN- 
CELLORS. 

William  I.  Justiciars.  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  and 
William  Fitz-Osbern,  1067  ;  William  de  Warren  and 
Richard  Fitz-Gilbert,  1073;  Lanfranc,  archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  Geoffrey,  bishop  of  Coutances,  and  Robert, 
earl  of  Mortain,  1078. 

Chancellors.  Herfast,  afterwards  bishop  of  Elmham, 
1068;  Osbern,  afterwards  bishop  of  Exeter,  1070 — 
1074  ;  Osmund,  afterwards  bishop  of  Salisbury,  1074 — 
1078;  Maurice,  afterwards  bishop  of  London,  1078 — 
1083;  William  de  Beaufeu,  afterwards  bishop  of  Thet- 
ford,  1083—1085;  William  Giffard,  1086—1087. 

in  I  Ham  II.  Justiciars.  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux, 
1087—1088;  William  of  St.  Carilef,  1088;  Ranulf 
Flambard,  afterwards  bishop  of  Durham,  1094 — 1100. 

Chancellors.  William  Giffard,  1087—1090;  Robert 
Bloett,  1090;  Waldric,  1093;  William  Giffard,  1094— 
1100. 

Henry  I.  Justiciars.  Robert  Bloett,  1100 — 1107; 
Ralph  Basset  (?)  ; '  Roger,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  1107 — 
1135. 


1  See  pp.  112,  113,  Anglo-Saxon  Chron.,  Anno  1124. 


INTRODUCTION.  lvii 

Chancellors.  William  Giflard,  1100—1101  ;  Roger, 
1101—1103;  William  Giffard,  1103—1104;  Waldric, 
1 104  ;  llanulf,  1 108— 11&3 ;  Geoffrey  Rufus,  afterwards 
bishop  of  Durham,  1124—1135. 

Stephen.  Justiciar.  Roger,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  1135 
—1 139  ;  Richard  de  Luci  (?) '  —1154. 

Chancellors.  Roger,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  1135 — 
1139;  Philip,  1139. 

Henry  II.  Justiciars.  Robert  de  Beaumont,  earl  of 
Leicester,  1154— 1167  ;  Richard  de  Luci,  1154 — 1179; 
Ranulf  de  Glanvill,  1180—1189. 

Chancellors.  Thomas  a  Becket,  afterwards  archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  1154 — 1162;  Ralph  de  Warnevill, 
1 173 — 1181 ;  Geoffrey,  filius  regis,  afterwards  archbishop 
of  York,  1181—1189. 

Richard  I.  Justiciars.  Hugh,  bishop  of  Durham,  and 
William,  earl  of  Essex,  1189  ;  Hugh,  bishop  of  Durham, 
and  William  Longchamp,  bishop  of  Ely,  1190  ;  William 
Longchamp  alone,  1190  ;  Walter  of  Coutances,  arch- 
bishop of  Rouen,  1191 — 1193;  Hubert- Walter,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  1 194— 1198  ;  Geoffrey  Fitz-Peter, 
earl  of  Essex,  1198—1199. 

Chancellors.  William  Longchamp,  bishop  of  Ely, 
1189—1197;  Eustace,  bishop  of  Ely,  1197—1199. 

Besides  the  above  justiciars,  it  must  be  understood 
that  there  was  also  a  great  number  of  inferior  judges 
who  were  sometimes  called  justiciars.  See,  for  example, 
Abbot  Faritius  v.  Gamel,  p.  102.  Then  there  were 
occasional  justiciars  of  the  king,  delegated  to  hold  special 

i  See  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Uist.  419,  450. 


lviii  INTRODUCTION. 

pleas ;  as  in  the  case  of  The  King-  v.  Abbot  of  Tavistock, 
p.  69.  But  those  above  named  possessed  vice-regal 
powers,  and  were  justiciars  by  distinction.  Their  func- 
tions, unlike  those  of  modern  judges,  were  not  merely 
judicial,  but  were  also  fiscal,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the 
king  from  England,  nearly  universal. 


INDEX  OF  CASES. 


[Tt  is  deemed  unnecessary  to  present  the  names  of  the  parties  in  reversed  order.] 


Abbess  of  St.  Mary,  295. 

Abbey  or  Abbot  of  Abingdon,  94,  97, 

106,  111,  149,  206. 
Abbot  of  Abingdon  v.  Anskill,  62. 

v.  Goscelin,  90. 

• — v.  Jordan   de  Po- 

diis,  148. 
• ■ v.      The       King's 

Foresters,  64. 
v.  Turstin,  167. 


Abbot  of  Battel  v.  Alan  de  Bellafago, 
245. 

Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester,  250 
—256. 

Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  Men  of  Glouces- 
ter, 254. 

v.     Robert,     162, 

163. 

v.  Walter,  128. 

v.  William,  130. 

Abbot  of  St.  Andrew  v.  Haimo,  31. 

Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  Ansfrid,  293. 

v.  Archdeacon 

of  Canterbury,  110,  146. 

i v.   Emeline  de 


Roos,  207. 


Thanet,  224. 


v.       Men      of 


v.  William    de 


Roos,  205. 
Abbot  of  St.  Augustine's  Claims,  32, 

66. 
Abbot  of  St.  Edmund,  244,  284. 
v.      Abbot      of 


Peterborough,  32. 


v.  Jordan,  286. 


Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  v.  Robert,  27!», 

306. 
v.    The    Jews, 

279. 
Abbot  of  St.  Peter,  293,  294. 

v.  Baldwin,  301. 

Abbot  of  Tavistock,  61. 
Abbot  of  Westminster,  127. 
Abingdon.      See  Abbey  or  Abbot   of 

Abingdon  ;     Church    at    Abingdon  ; 

Prior  and  Convent  of  Abingdon, 
Abrincis  v.  Abbey  of  Abingdon,  73. 
Adam,  Son  of  Aluric,  268. 
Adeliz  v.  Hugh  de  B.,  300. 
Ailward,  260. 
Aincurt's  Claim,  59. 
Aitard  v.  Roger  Bigot,  303. 
Alan  v.  Wido,  60. 
Alau,  Earl,  v.  Hardwin,  298. 
Alan,  Lands  of,  41,  43. 
Alfnoth  v  Ala,  64. 
Alfred  v.  Walter  of  Flanders,  299. 
Aluric  v.  Roger  Bigot,  305. 
Anesty,    Richard     de,    v.    Mabel     de 

Francheville,  311. 
Ansculf,  a  Sheriff,  294. 
Archbishop    of   Canterbury   v.  Abbot 

of  Battel,  143. 
y.  Abbot 


of  St.  Edmund,  238. 


■  v.  Bishop 


Odo,  4,  293. 
Archbishop  of  York,  166. 
■    v.  Bishop  Geoffrey, 


223. 


v.  Bishop  Odo,  57. 


lx 


INDKX    OF    CASKS. 


Archbishop  of  York  v.  Tailbois,  57. 

v.  Tison,  50. 

Lauds  of,  58. 

Asa,  Lands  of,  48. 

Ascelin  v.  Monks  of  St.  Andrew,  160. 

Athellelm  v.  Officers  of  the  King,  30. 

Bainard  v.  Robert,  Son  of  C,  304. 
Bardul,  Hugh,  270. 
Barnage,  Ralph,  141. 
Becket,  Thomas  a,  211,  213,  216. 
Benedict,  the  Jew,  277. 
Berkley  Manor,  39. 
Beurere's,  Drogo  de,  Claim,  59. 
Bigot,  Roger,  303. 
Bigot,  Widow  and  Heir  of,  230. 
Bishop  of  Bayeux.    See  Odo,  Bishop  of. 
Bishop    of    Durham    v.     Canons    of 
Beureli,  50. 

. v.  Eudo,  56. 

v.     Gilbert     de 


Gaud,  56. 


v.  Robert  Malet, 


48. 


Breton's  and  Bieteuil's  Cases,  11. 
Bruford,  269. 

Buildewas.     See  Monks  of  Buildewas. 
Busli  v.  William  de  Warren,  52. 

Canons  of  St.  Martin  v.  The  King,  159. 

Canons  of  St.  Mary,  310. 

Canterbury.  See  Abbot  of  St.  Augus- 
tine ;  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ; 
Men  of  Canterbury  ;  Mills  of  Canter- 
bury ;  Monks  of  Canterbury. 

Cellarer  of  Abingdon  v.  Master  of  a 
Ship,  102. 

Certain  Persons  v.  Beliardis,  181. 

Chester,  Bishop  of,  301. 

Childon,  Villata  de,  275. 

Church  and  Aqueduct  at  South wark, 
37. 

Church  and  Land  in  Greston,  41. 

Church  at  Abingdon,  113. 

v.  William,  130. 

Church  of  Ely  v.  Odo,  301. 

Church  of  Rochester,  90. 


Church  of  St,  Andrew,  165. 

Church  of  St.  Augustine,  148. 

Church  of  St.  Benet,  72. 

Church  of  St.  Mary,  96,  105,  298. 

v.  Robert,  300. 

v.  W.  de  Montefi- 

chet,  91. 

Church  of  St.  Peter,  74,  163. 

v.  Milo,  129. 

Church  of  York  v.  Church  of  Glouces- 
ter, 189. 

Clare,  Earl  of,  v.  Abbot  of  St.  Ed- 
mund, 280. 

Customs  of  Foreign  Merchants,  37. 

Dean  of  Wells,  272. 

Drogo  v.  Church  of  St.  John,  54. 

v.  Wido,  60. 

Drogo  de  Beurere's  Claim,  59. 
Durand,  294. 

Earl  of  Clare  v.  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund, 

2S0. 
Edric,  a  Freeman,  306. 
Edwin  v.  William,  1. 
Eldred,  Brother  of  Odo,  296. 
Ely,  Church  of,  v.  Odo,  301. 
Ely,  Lands  and  Liberties  of,  22,  40. 
Ermenold  v.  Faritius,  131. 
Ernwin  v.  Osbern  de  Arcis,  53. 

Fardenc,  Robert,  306. 

Faritius,  Abbot,  94,  95,  108,  109. 

v.  Ared,  96. 

v.  Adelelm,  104. 

v.  Egilwin,  131. 

v.  Gamel,  102. 

v.  Godric,  91. 

v.  Goscelin,  76. 

v.  Gotselin  de  Riparia, 


'.'2. 


99. 


v.  Hugh,  110,  124. 
v.  Jordan  de  Sackville, 

v.  Men  of  Farnham,98. 
v.  Men  of  Stanton,  89. 
v.  Men  of  Sutton,  101. 


INDEX    01-'    CASES. 


Faritius,  Abbot,  v.  Nigel  deOilio,  70,  77. 
v.  Richard   do   Monte, 


107. 


v.  Robert  Maledoit,  07 
V.  Walter  (iill'anl,  78. 
v.  William,  75. 


Ferrariis,  Ralph  de,  209. 

Fifty  Men,  Case  of,  72. 

Forfeited  Lands,  44. 

Fossard,  Nigel,  Lands  of,  53. 

Fotestorp,  Lauds  in,  43,  61. 

Freeman,  A,  v.  Torold,  301. 

Freeman,  Land  of,  45. 

Freeman,  Status  of,  43,  44,  302,  304. 

Free  Woman,  A,  v.  Aitard,  305. 

Fugitives,  268. 

Gaud,  Gilbert  do,  v.  Robert  de  Veci,  59. 
Gausbert,  Abbot,  v.  Bishop  Stigand,  14. 
Gausfrid,   Abbot,    v.    Abbot   of    Mar- 

moutier,   122. 
■ v.  Robert  do   Chil- 


ton, 84. 


v.  The   King's  Col- 


lectors, 86. 
Geoffrey  de  M.,  Fee  of,  302. 
Giffard,  Robert,  141. 
Gilbert,  Abbot,  v.  Earl  Gilbert,  150. 
Gilbert  of  Plumpton,  233. 
Gilbert  Tison  v.  Bishop  of  Durham,  48. 
Girard  of  Camvill,  283. 
Glanvill,  Ranulf  de,  273. 
Godfrey,  Bishop,  215. 
Godric  v.  Roger  Sad,  303. 
Godwin  v.  Robert,  137. 
Greston,  Church  and  Laud  in,  41. 
Gundulf,  Bishop,  v.  Pichot,  34 

Hamingeston,  Land  in,  44. 

Hamlin,  Abbot,   v.  A  certain  Person, 

219. 
_ v.  Earl    William   and 

Picot,  182. 
Hasting,  Robert  de,  269. 
Henry,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  165. 
Henry  de  Pirariis,  274. 
Henry  of  Essex,  210,  2  17. 


Herbert,  Bishop,  v.  Peter  de  Valoniis, 
310. 

Homager  v.  Earl  Eustace,  298. 
Sordarer  of  Winchester  v.  Abbot  In- 
gulf,  2^2. 

Hospital  of  Jerusalem  v.  Abbot  Ham- 
lin, 248. 

1 1  abert  of  St.  Q.  v.  Stephen  of  F.,  285. 

Hugh  v.  Turstin,  295. 

Hugh,  Abbot,  121,  125. 

v.  Cauons  of  St.  Martin, 

98. 

v.  Manasser  Arsic,  108. 

Hugh  Bardul,  270. 

Hugh  de  B.  v.  William  de  C,  299. 

Hugh  de  Kirketon,  268. 

Hugh  de  Port,  Land  of,  38. 

Hugh,  Earl,  v.  William  de  Percy,  47. 

Huntingdon.  See  Priests  of  Hunting- 
don. 

Icklesham,  Robert  de,  v.  Abbot  Wal- 
ter, 179. 
Ilbert  v.  Roger  of  Poitou,  301. 
Isaac  v.  A  certain  Nun,  305. 

John,  the  Marshall,  v.  Thomas  a 
Becket,  211. 

Joslin  of  Hocton,  271. 

Judges  and  Jurors  of  York,  142. 

Juliana  and  Robert  c.  Prior  and  Monks 
of  Roffa,  267. 

Jumieges,  William  of,  v.  Abbot  Fari- 
tius, 93. 

Kempe,  Swetman,  271. 

King,  The,  v.  Abbot  of  Tavistock,  69. 

r.  A  certain  Clerk,  301. 

v.  Azor,  297. 

v.  Bishop  Odo,  51,  291. 

■ v.    Bishop   William    of  St. 

Carilef,  307. 

r.  Burchard,  305. 

v.  Church  of  St.  Peter,  301. 

e.  Henry  de  F.,  297. 

c  Bis  Sheriffs,  216. 

r.  Hugh,  109. 


b 


INDEX    OF    CASES. 


King,  The,  r.  Nigel,  49. 

r.  Robert  Belisme,  83. 

r.  R  i  il  >ert  de  Montefichet,  94. 

r.  Robert,  Earl  of  Leicester, 


229. 


Robert  Malet,  82. 
Sawin,296. 

Thomas  a  Becket,  213. 
Walkelin,  203. 


King's  Officers,  The,  296. 

Laking,  Robert  of,  v.  Scaliger,  249. 

Land  in  Groton,  45. 

Land  in  Hamingeston,  I  I 

Land  in  Photestorp,  43. 

Land  in  Risby,  52. 

Land  in  Tornoure.  52. 

Lands  and  Liberties  of  Ely,  22,  40." 

Lands  of  Abbot  Ulwold,  294. 

Lands  of  Alan,  41,  43. 

Lands  of  Alvin,  296. 

Lands  of  Asa,  48. 

Lands  of  Bishop  Odo,  293. 

Lands  of  Freeman,  45. 

Lands  of  Hugh  de  Port,  38. 

Lands  of  Nigel  Fossard,  53. 

Lands  of  Norman,  53. 

Lands  of  Ralph,  40,  41,  42. 

Lands  of  Thomas,  Archbishop,  58. 

Lands  of  William  de  S.,  30 1, 

Lands  of  William  of  Wan-en,  41,  42. 

Lands  of  William  Malet,  47,  49,  50, 

51,  53,  54. 
Lanfranc,  Archbishop,  v.  Bishop  Odo, 

4,  293. 
Legra,  Manor  of,  302. 
Liberties   of  Abingdon,  73,  107,  143, 

L56,  203. 
Lofus  v.  Bishop  Odo,  294. 
London  Citizens  V.  Wyilo,  (VI. 
Losward  v.  Gilbert  de  Gand,  55. 
Luci,  Robert  de,  272. 

Malar!  o.  Bricstan,  111. 
Malet,  Robert,  v.  William  de  Percy,51. 
Malet,   William,   Lands  of,  47,  19,  50, 
51,  53,  51. 


Mandevillc,  Robert  de,  v.  Reginald  de 

Warren,  210. 
Manor  of  Legra,  302. 
Manor  of  Spersold,  39. 
Matilda's  Case,  79. 
Matthew,  Abbot,  v.  Ranulf,  226. 
Matthew  de  Vernun,  142. 
Mauricius  de  Wadenhal,  276. 
Men  of  Canterbury,  159. 
Men  of  Mortemer,  59. 
Men  of  Odo  v.  Robert,  54. 
Men  of  Periton  v.  Abbot  Faritius,  99. 
Men    of  St.  Augustine  v.  Citizens  of 

Canterbury,  SS. 
Men  of  Wallingford  v.  Abbot  Walkelin, 

198. 
Men  of  Whistley  v.  Osatus,  87. 
Michael  de  Spikeswick,  270. 
Mills  of  Canterbury,  232. 
Modbert  v.  Prior  and  Monks  of  Bath, 

114. 
Monks  of  Abingdon,  106,  204,  250. 
v.  Officersof  Urso, 

92. 
v.  The  King's  Bai- 
liffs, 206. 
Monks  of  Basselech  v.  Picot,  155. 
Monks  of  Bordsley,  188. 
Monks  of  Buildewas  p.  Men  of  Sheriff 

of  Salop,  264. 
Monks    of  Canterbury  v.  Archbishop 

Baldwin,  240. 
Monks  of  Durham  v.  Monks  of  York, 

117. 
Monks  of   Gloucester,  126,  162,   164, 

254.  255,  257. 
.Monks  of  St.  Augustine,  87,  88, 146. 
Monks  of  St.  Benet,  71. 
Monks  of  St.    Edmund    v.  Citizens  of 

London,  282. 
Monks  of  St.  Stephen   v.  The  King's 

Tenants,  119. 
Monks  of  Winchester,  295. 
v.    Ralph    de 

Mortemer,  295. 
Mortemcr's  Claim.   17. 

Mortemer's  Men,  59. 


fNDEX    OF    CASES. 


Ixm 


Norman,  Lands  of,  53. 

Norway  Merchants  v.  Mowbray,  67. 

Odo,  Abbot,  221. 

Odo  v.  Geoffrey,  296. 

Odo,  Bishop,  v.  Abbot  Walter,  20. 

v.  Archbishop  Lanfranc,  10. 

v.  Mother  of  Robert  Malot, 

45. 
Odo's  Men  v.  Robert,  54. 
Officer,  An,  v.  Earl  of  Mortain,  294. 
Oger,  Son  of  Oger,  276. 
Osbern,  Bishop,  297. 
Ou,  William  de,  69,  296. 

Pagenel  v.  Church  of  St.  Peter,  47. 

Percy,  William  de,  v.  Nigel,  50. 

Peter  v.  Remelin,  136. 

Peverell's  Estate,  147. 

Philip  de  Eynia,  278. 

Philip  of  Mattesdon  v.  Abbot  Hamlin, 

264. 
Photestorp,  Land  in,  43,  61. 
Piperell,  Ranulf,  v.  A  certain  Soldier, 

302. 
Priests  of  Huntingdon  v.  Earl  Eustac 

299. 
Prior  and    Convent   of   Abingdon   v. 

Thomas  of  Esseburn,  234. 
Prior    of    Hospital    of    Jerusalem    v. 

Abbot  Hamlin,  2 18. 
Prior  of  Worcester,  278. 

Raioald  i>.  Abbot  of  Gloucester,  258. 
Ralph  Barnage,  141. 
Ralph,  the  Cook,  271. 
Ralph  de  Ferrariis,  269. 
Ralph,  Lands  of,  40,  41,  42. 
Ralph  Mortemer's  Claim,  47. 

Men,  59. 

Ranulf  v.  Ralph,  307. 

v.  Robert  de  Muscams,  137. 

Ranulf,  Bishop,  v.  Alan  de  Percy,  309. 
Ranulf  de  Glanvill,  273. 
Ranulf  Peverell's  Estate,  147. 
Rayner  v.  Hugh,  55. 
Reimund  de  Baldac,  269. 


Rcmigius,  Bishop,  30,  299. 

Rex.     See  King,  The. 

Reynold,  Abbot,  v.  Edwy,  67. 
Richard,  Abbot,  v.  Ranulf,  124. 

Richard  de  Curci  v.  Father  of  R.  M. 
307. 

Richard  del  Lech,  273. 

Robert  v.  Gernun,  93. 

v.  Gilbert  de  Gand,  57,  58. 

v.  Lord  of  Stow,  139. 

v.  Men  of  W.,  139. 

v.  Peverell,  138. 

v.  The  King,  57. 

Robert  de  Hasting,  269. 

Robert  de  Icklesham  v.  Walter,  179. 

Robert  de  Luci,  272. 

Robert  de  Ross,  268. 

Robert  Fardenc,  306. 

Robert  Giffard,  141. 

Robert,  Son  of  Brienus,  275. 

Robert,  Son  of  Ernisus,  271. 

Robert,  Son  of  Gerard,  141. 

Robert's  Wife  v.  Abbot  of  Abingdon, 

180. 
Rochester,  Church  of,  90. 
Roger  v.  Alvin  de  T.,  303. 
Roger,  Abbot,  220. 
Roger,  Archbishop,  v.  Bishop  Geoffrey, 

223. 
Roger  Bigot  v.  Godric,  305. 

v.  Ralph,  304. 

Roger  de  Eir,  270. 

Roger,  Prior,  v.  Abbot  of  St.  M.,  231. 
Roger,  Son  of  Everard,  275. 
Roger,  Son  of  Geoffrey,  140. 
Rufus,  William,  v.  Richard,  265. 

Saint    Andrew.      See    Abbot   of    St. 

Andrew. 
Saint  Andrew,  Church  of,  165. 
Saint  Augustine.     See   Abbot  of  St. 

Augustine ;  Men  of  St.  Augustine  ; 

Monks  of  St.  Augustine. 
Saint  Augustine,  Church  of,  148. 
Saint  Benet,  Church  of,  72. 
Saint    Edmund.     See    Abbot   of    St. 

Edmund;  Monks  of  St.  Edmund. 


Ixiv 


INDEX    OF    CASES. 


Saint  Mary,  Church  of,  96,  105,  298. 

v.  Robert,  300. 

• r.  W.  de  Monte- 

lichot,  91. 
Saint  Peter,  Church  of,  74,  163. 

v.  Milo,  129. 

Saint     Stephen.      See    Monks  of   St. 

Stephen. 
Scotland  v.  Hamo,  13. 
Scotland's  Claim,  36. 
Sen ex,  John, 231. 
Serlo,  Abbot,  v.  Archbishop  Thomas, 

29. 
Sheftbury  Hundred,  270. 
Sheriff  of  Berkshire  v.  Walkelin,  207. 
Simon  de  Medelwood,  278. 
Simon,  Son  of  Peter,  275. 
Sokeman,  A,  v.  The  King,  298. 
Spersold  Manor,  39. 
Status  of  a  Freeman,  43,  4t. 
Surdeval,  Richard  de,  v.  The  King,  51. 
Swetman  Kempe,  271. 

Tailbois  v.  The  King,  58. 

Tarald  v.  Godric,  302. 

Thomas,  Archbishop,  v.   Bishop  Odo, 

57. 

. v.  Tailbois,  57. 

Tierricus,  Son  of  Roger,  140. 

Tison,  Gilbert,  v.  Bishop  of  Durham, 

48. 
Todeni,  Robert  de,  v.  Judith,  59. 
Turpni,  William,  r.  Abbot  Roger,  217. 

Vernun,  142. 

Villata  de  Childon,  275. 

Vincent,  132. 

v.  Basset,  121. 

v.  Simon,  135. 

W-,  the  Chamberlain,  r.  Adolf,  300. 

Waleran,  Son  of  William,  1  l<>. 
Walkelin  r.  Abingdon,  2(».">. 

. r.  Basset,  l'.»7. 

r.  Pagan,  208. 

Wallingford.     See  Men  ofWallin 


Walter,  Abbot,  298. 

- ■ v.  Alande  Nevill,  173. 

r.  Bishop  of  Chiches- 
ter, 156. 

t.  Gilbert  Baillol,  175. 

Walter  de  Dowai,  294. 

Walter  Palmer,  270. 

Walter,  Son  of  Amfr.,  271. 

Walter  de  Taverner,  274. 

Waltheof,  Earl,  12. 

Warren,  Lands  of  William  of,  11,  42. 

Wells,  Dean  of,  272. 

Whistley,  Men  of,  r.  Osatus,  87. 

Wife  of  Robert  r.  Abbot  of  Abingdon, 

180. 
William  v.  Abbot  and  Monks  of  Glou- 
cester, 135. 

William,  Abbot,  r.  John  and  Richard, 

261. 
William  Basset,  272. 
William  de  Colevill,  274. 

William  do  C.  v.  Hugh  de  B.,  299. 
William  de  Ottrinkeham,  268. 

William,  Earl,  298. 

William  Gemuns,  272. 

William  le  Lutre,  141.    - 

William  of  Berkeley,  v.  Abbot  Thomas, 
266. 

William  of  Jumieges  r.  Abbot  Fari- 
tius,  93. 

William  of  Ow,  69,  296. 

William  of  St.  Edward,  140. 

William  of  Sturus,  273. 

William,  Son  of  Ulger,  274. 

Wurcester,  Bishop  of,  16,  287. 

Worcester,  Prior  of,  278. 

Wulf'stan,  Bishop,  v.  Abbot  Walter,  16, 
287. 

Walstan,  Bishop,  300. 

r.  Archbishop  Thomas, 

2. 

Fork,  Archbishop  of.     See  Archbishop 

iif  York  ;  Lands  of  Thomas  ;  Thomas, 
Archbishop. 
York,  Church  of,    r.   Church  of  Glou- 
cester, 189. 


WILLIAM  I. 

[Edwin,  a  Dane,  et  al.  v.  William,  the  Cup-bearer, 
et  al.     Soon  after  1066.]  * 

[Neutrals  not  to  bo  disseised.  Edwin,  a  Dane,  and  others  alleging 
themselves  to  have  been  neutrals  in  the  contest  between  Harold 
and  William,  complain  that  they  have  been  disseised  of  their 
lands  by  the  latter's  men.  Proof  of  neutrality  offered,  as  the 
king  may  direct.  An  inquisition  ordered,  and  the  neutrality  of 
the  plaintiffs  found.     Judgment  in  their  favour.] 

Edwinus  Dacus  venit  de  Dacia  in  Angliam  cum  Canuto 
rege  Daiiorum,  a.d.  1014,  quando  ipse  Canutus  debellavit 
cum  Edredo  rege  Angliae.  Et  fuit  ipse  Edwinus  domi- 
nus  integre  de  prsedictis  villis  (sc.  Neteshamiae  etc.)  et 
obtinuit  omnia  prsedicta  in  pace,  quousque  Willielmus 
bastardus  dux  Normannorum  venit  Angliam  super 
Heraldum  regem,  qui  coronatus  fuit  apud  Westmonas- 
terium,  a.d.  1066.  Et  post  coronationem  suam  ipse 
dedit  diversas  terras  in  Anglia  diversis  hominibus,  qui 
secum  venerant  in  auxilio  ad  Angliam  conquirendam. 
Inter  quas  dedit  Wilhelmo  Albenege  pincernse  suo  et 
Williehno  de  Warennia  forestario  suo,  diversas  terras  et 
dominationes  in  comitatu  Norfolcia?  et  alibi  in  Anglia. 
Et  prsedicti  Willielmus  pincerna  et  Willielmus  de 
Warennia  et  omnes  alii  qui  venerunt  cum  prredicto 
conqucstore,    ejecerunt    diversos    homines    de    omnibus 

1   Wilkins,  Leg.  Ang.-Sax.  287  ;   1  Phillips,  Eng.  Rechts.  92. 

B 


2  PLACITA     i.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

terris  ct  dominationibus  suis.  Propter  quod  idem 
Edwinus  et  quidem  alii,  qui  ejecti  fuerunt,  abierunl 
ad  conquestorem  et  dixerunt  ei,  quod  nunquam  ante 
conqucstum  nee  in  conqucstu  suo,  nee  post  fuerunt 
contra  ipsum  regem  in  consilio  et  auxilio,  seel  tenuerunt 
se  in  pace,  et  hoc  parati  fuerint  probare  quo  modo  ipse 
rex  vellet  ordinare.  Per  quod  idem  rex  fecit  inquiri  per 
totam  Ang'liam,  si  ita  fuit ;  quod  quidem  probatum 
f'uit  ;  propter  quod  idem  rex  prseeepit,  ut  omnes  illi  qui 
sic  tenuerunt  se  in  pace  in  forma  prsedicta,  quod  ipsi 
rehaberent  omnes  terras  et  dominationes  suas  adeo 
integre  et  in  pace,  ut  unquam  habuerunt  vel  tenuerunt 
ante  conquestum  suum ;  et  quod  ipsi  in  posterum 
vocarentur  Drenges.  Super  quod  idem  rex  ad  seelam 
prsedicti  Edwini  mandavit  prsedictis  Willielmo  pincernae 
et  Willielmo  de  Warennia  quod  ipsi  deliberent  praedicto 
Edwino  omnes  terras  et  dominationes  suas  ex  quibus 
ejecerunt  eum. 

As  to  this  case,  see  the  Preface. 


[Bishop  Wulstan  v.  Archbishop  Thomas.     1070.] ' 

m  of  Worcester  "by  the  jusl  judgment  of  God"  re- 
cover ■  land  -  of  Thoma  ,  archbisl  op  of  Yoi  k,  w  hici   i  be  [a 
predecessor   had  retained   when   transferred   from   Worcester  to 
fork  ;  the  plaintiff  having  been  compelled  to  defer  his  suil  until 
the  vacancy  in  the  see  of  York  was  filled  by  th  ttion  of 

li  fendanl .     Trial  before  i  he  kinj  '  •  '       fri  no,  t  he 

bishops,  abl  men.] 

I.v  hoc  itaque  concilio/  dum  cseteri  trepidi,  utpote  regis 

'  2  Florence  of  Worcester,  5,  6,  8  (Eng.  Hist.  Soc). 
'  At  Wine  L070. 


WILLIAM    I.  o 

agnoscentes  animum,1  nc  suis  honoribus  privarentur 
timerentj  venerandus  vir  Wulstanus,  Wigornensis  epis- 
copus,  possessiones  quamplures  sui  episcopatus  ab 
Aklredo  archiepiscopo,  dum  a  Wigornensi  ecclesia  ad 
Eboracensem  transferretur,  sua  potentia  retentas,  cpua3 
eo  tunc  defuncto  in  regiam  potestatem  devenerant, 
constanter  proclamabat,  expetebat,  justitiamque  inde 
fieri  tarn  ab  ipsis  qui  concilio  praeerant,  quara  a  rege 
flagitabat.  At  quia  Eboracensis  ecclesia,  non  habens 
pastorem  qui  pro  ea  loqueretur,  muta  erat,  judicatum 
est  ut  ipsa  querela  sic  remaneret  quousque,  archiepiscopo 
ibi  constituto  qui  ecclesiam  defenderet,  dum  esset  qui 
ejus  querelas  responderet,  ex  objectis  et  responsis  posset 
evidentius  ac  justius  judicium  fieri.  Sicque  tunc  ea 
querela  ad  tempus  remansit.  .  .  .  Deinde  Landfrancus 
Thomam  Eboracensem  consecravit  episcopum.  His 
gestis,  reverendi  Wlstani,  Wigornensis  episcopi,  mota 
est  iterum  querela,  episcopo  jam  consecrato  Thoma,  qui 
pro  Eboracensi  loqueretur  ecclesia;  et  in  consilio,  in 
loco  qui  vocatur  Pedreda  celebrato,  coram  rege  ac 
DoruberniaB  archiepiscopo  Landfranco,  et  episcopis, 
abbatibus,  cornitibus,  et  primatibus  totius  Anglian,  Dei 
gratia  adminiculate,  est  terminata.  Cunctis  siquidem 
macbinamentis  non  veritate  stipatis,  quibus  Thomas 
ej usque  fautores  Wigornensem  ecclesiam  deprimere,  et 
Eboracensi  eeclesiae  subjicere,  ancillamque  facere  modis 
omnibus  satagebant,  justo  Dei  judicio  ac  scriptis  eviden- 
tissimis  detritis,  et  penitus  annihilatis,  non  solum  vir 
Dei  Wlstanus  proclamatas  et  expetitas  possessiones 
recepit,  sed  et  suam  ecclesiam,  Deo  donante  ac  rege 
concedente,    ea    libertate   liberam    suscepit,    qua   primi 

1  TLe  king  had  at  this  council  deposed  two  bishops  and  removed 
many  abbots.     lb.  p.  5. 

B    2 


4-  PLACITA   .\\i;i,o-\oini.\\Nic\. 

fundatorcs  ejus,  sanctus  rex  iEthelreduSj  Osherus 
irwicciorum  subregulus,  cseterique  Merciorum  regcs, 
Kenredus,  jEthelbaldus,  OfTa,  Kenulfus,  eorumque  suc- 
cessoreSj  Eadwardus  senior,  iEthelstanus,  Eadmundus, 
Edredus,  Eadgarus  ipsam  liberaverant. 

Quaere,  if  "  the  just  judgment  of  God"  is  to  be  understood  in  tho 
technical  sense  of  tho  ordeal  ?     Probably  not. 


[Archbishop  Lanfranc  v.  Bishop  Odo.    About  1071.] 

[General  writ  for  the  restitution  of  lands  of  which  the  churches  had 
been  unlawfully  disseised  at  the  Conquest.  Under  this  writ 
Lanfranc,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  brings  suit  in  the  County 
Court  of  Kent  at  Penenden  Heath,  for  the  recovery  of  lands  and 
franchises  of  which  the  see  of  Canterbury  had  been  deprived,  as 
Lanfranc  alleged,  by  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  on  the  latter's 
advent  as  earl  of  the  county,  and  before  Lanfranc' s  consecration. 
The  trial  lasts  three  days,  and  results  in  the  recovery  of  many 
manors  and  franchises  by  Lanfranc,  and  the  clearing  up  and 
defining  of  ancient  customs  in  Kent.  French  and  English  are 
alike  summoned  to  the  trial,  especially  such  of  the  latter  as  were 
skilled  in  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  county.  Geoffrey,  bishop 
of  Coutance,  presides  as  tho  king's  justiciar.] 

W.1  Dei  gratia  vex  Anglorum,  L.  arehiepiscopo  Cantua- 
riensi  et  G.  episcopo  Constantiarum,  et  R.  comiti  de  Ou, 
cl  Et.  filio  comitis  Gil.  et  H.  de  Monteforte,  suisque  aliis 
proceribus  regni  Anglise,  salutem.  Sunnnonete  vice- 
comites  raeos  ex  praecepto  meo,  et  ex  parte  mea  eis 
dicitc,  u(  reddanl  ej  iscopatibus  meis,  el  abbatiis  totum 
dominium  omnesque  dominicas  terras  quas  de  dominio 

1   1  Brady's  Eist.  England,  L91. 


WILLIAM    I.  0 

episcopatuum  meorum,  et  abbatiarum  episcopi  mei  ct 
abbates  eis  vcl  leuitate,  vel  timore  vel  cupiditate 
dederunt,  vel  habere  consenserunt,  vel  ipsi  violentia 
sua  inde  abstraxerunt,  et  quod  hactenus  injuste  posse- 
derunt  de  dominio  ecclesiarum  mearum,  et  nisi  reddi- 
derint,  sieut  eos  ex  parte  mea  suminonebitis,  vos  ipsos 
vcl  i nt  nolint  constringite  reddere.  Quod  si  quilibet 
alius,  vel  aliquis  vestrum,  quibus  hanc  justitiam  imposui, 
ejusdem  querela  fuerit,  reddat  similiter  quod  de  dominio 
episcopatuum  vel  abbatiarum  mearum  habuit,  ne  propter 
illud  quod  inde  aliquis  vestrum  habebit,  minus  exereeat 
super  meos  vicecornites,  vel  alios  quicunque  teneant 
dominium  ecclesiarum  mearum,  quod  praecipio. 

[The  following  trial  at  Penenden  Heath  appears  to  have  been  in- 
stituted  upon  the  above  writ.]  1 

Tempore  magni  regis  Willielmi,  qui  Anglicum  l'egnum 
armis  conquisivit,  et  suis  ditionibus  subjugavit,  con  tig-it 
Odonem  Baiocensem  episcopuin,  et  ejusdem  regis  fratrem 
multo  citius  quam  Lanfrancum  archiepiscopumin  Angliam 
venire,  atque  in  comitatu  de  Client  cum  magna  potentia 
residere,  ibique  potestatem  non  modicam  exercere.  Et 
quia  illis  diebus  in  comitatu  illo  quisquam  non  erat,  qui 
tantce  fortitudinis  viro  resistere  posset,  propter  magnam 
quam  habuit  potestatem,  terras  complures  de  archi- 
episcopatu  Cantuarberia?  et  consuetudines  nonnullas 
sibi  arripuit  atque  usurpans  suae  dominationi  ascripsit. 
Postea  vero  non  multo  tempore,  contigit  praefatum 
Lanfrancum  Cadomensis  ecclesioo  abbatem,  jussu  regis, 
in  Angliam  quoque  venire,  atque  in  archiepiscopatu 
Cantuariensi,  Deo  disponente,  totius  Angliaj  regni  pri- 
matem  sublimatum  esse.     Ubi  dum  aliquandiu  resideret 

1  Selden'e  Eadmer,  VJ7. 


6  ri.UTI'A     AN<;I.O-XOKMAXXl('\. 

et  antiquas  ecclesise  sua-  terras  multas  sibi  deesse  in- 
veniret,  et  suorum  negligentia  antecessorum  illas  distri- 
butas  atque  distractas  fuisse  reperissel ,  diligenter  inquisita 
<  1  bene  cognita  veritate,  regem  quam  citius  potuit  et 
non  pigre  inde  requisivit.  Praecepit  ergo  rex  comitatum 
totum  absque  mora  considere  et  homines  comitatus 
omnes  Francigenas  et  prsecipue  Anglos  in  anti<piis 
legibus  et  consuetudinibus  peritos  in  unum  convenire. 
Qui  cum  convenerunt  apud  Pinendenam  omnes  pariter 
consederunt.  Et  quoniam  multa  placita  <le  diratiocina- 
tionibus  ten-arum  et  verba  de  consuetudinibus  legum 
inter  arcbiepiscopum  et  prsedictum  Baiocensem  epis- 
copum  ibi  surrexerunt,  et  etiam  inter  consuetudines 
regales  et  archiepiscopales  qua?  prima  die  expediri  non 
potuerunt,  ea  causa,  totus  comitatus  per  tres  dies  fuit 
ibi  detentus.  In  illis  tribus  diebus  diratiocinavit  ibi 
Lanfraneus  arcbiepiscopus  plures  terras  quas  tunc  ipse 
episcopus  et  homines  sui  tenuerunt,  videlicet,  Herebertus 
flli us  Ivonisj  Turoldus  de  Rovecestria,  lladulf'us  de 
Curva  Spina,  Hugo  de  Monte  Forti,  cum  omnibus 
consuetudinibus  et  rebus  qua)  ad  easdem  terras  per- 
tinebant ;  scilicet  Ratulfe,  Sandwic,  Rateburg,  Wede- 
tune,  Monasterium  de  Lunning  cum  terris  et  con- 
suetudinibus ad  ipsum  Monasterium  pertinent  ibus, 
Saltvude  cum  burgo  Ilethe  ad  Saltvude  pertinente, 
Langport,  Hiwendenne,  Rokinge,  Detlinge,  Prestitune, 
Sunderherste,  Carhethe,  Orpintune,  Einesford,  quatuor 
prsebendas  Broche,  de  Niwentune,  Stokes  ct  Devintune. 
In  Sutlii'eia,  favente  rege  WillielmOj  diratiocinavit  ipse 
archiepiscopus  Murtelache.  In  Lundonia  monasteiium 
Sanctse  Maria?,  cum  ten-is  el  domibus  quas  Livingus 
presbyter  et  uxor  illius  habuerunt;  in  Midlesexe, 
HerghaSj     Eeisam ;    in    Bochingeamsirej     Risebergam, 


WILLIAM    I.  7 

Ilaltune;    in    Oxenfordsire,    Niwentunej    in    Eastscxe, 
Stislede;     in    Sutfolchia,     Frachenham.       Item    super 
Radulfum  de  Curva  Spina  LX.  solidatas  de  pasturas  in 
Grean.     Et   omnes    illas    terras  et  alias    diratiocinavit 
cum  omnibus  consuetudinibus  et  rebus  quae   ad   easdem 
terras  pertinebant  ita  liberas  atque  quietas,  quod  in  ilia 
die  qua  ipsum  plaeitum  finitum  fuit  non  remansit  homo 
in  toto  regno  Anglise   qui   aliquid  inde   calumpniaretur 
neque  super  ipsas  terras  etiam  parvum  quicquam  clama- 
ret.      Stokes  vero   et  Devintune  et  Frachenham  reddidit 
ecclesiae    Sancti    Andreae,    quia   de  jure  ipsius  ecclesiae 
antiquitus  fuerunt.     Et  in  eodem  placito  non  solum  istas 
praenominatas  et  alias  terras  sed  et  omnes  libertates  ec- 
clesiae suae,  et  omnes  consuetudines  suas  renovavit,   et 
renovatas  ibi  diratiocinavit,  soca,  saca,  tol,  team,  fiymena, 
fry  m  the,    grithbreche,  foresteal,    haunfare,    infangenne- 
theof,  cum  omnibus  aliis  consuetudinibus  paribus  islis 
vel  minoribus  istis  in  terris  et  in  aquis,  in  sylvis,  in  viis, 
et  in  pratis,  et  in  omnibus  aliis  rebus  infra  civitatem 
et  extra,  infra  burgum  et  extra,  et  in  omnibus  aliis  locis. 
Et  ab  omnibus  illis  probis  et  sapientibus  hominibus  qui 
affuerunt   fuit    ita   ibi  diratiocinatum,  et  etiam  a  toto 
comitatu  recordatum  atque  judicatum  quod  sicut  ipse 
rex  tenet  suas  terras  liberas  et  quietas  in  suo  dominico 
ita  archiepiscopus  Cantuariensis  tenet  suas  terras  omnino 
liberas  et  quietas  in  suo  dominico.     Huic  placito   inter- 
fuerimt  Goisfridus  episcopus  Constantiensis  qui  in   loco 
regis  fuit  et  justitiam  illam  tenuit,   Lanfrancus  archi- 
episcopus qui  ut  dictum  est  placitavit  et  to  turn  diracio- 
cinavit,  comes  CantiaR,  videlicet  praedictus  Odo  Baiocensis 
episcopus,  Ernostus  episcopus  de  Rovecestria,  /Egelricus 
episcopus  de  Cicestra,  vir  antiquissimus  et  legum  terrce 
sapientissimus  (qui  ex  pia;cepto  regis  advectus  fuit   ad 


»  Pl.U'iTA     AXC.l.O-.NOKMAXXH  A. 

ipsns  ;mli(ju;is  legum  consuetudines  discutiendas  et  edo- 
cendasin  una  quadriga)  Richardus  de  Tunebregge,  Ilug-o 
de  Monte  Forti,  Willielmus  de  Arces,  Hay  mo  vice- 
comes,  et  alii  multi  barones  regis  et  ipsius  archiepiscopi 
atque  illorum  episcoporum  liomines  multi,  et  alii 
aliorum  comitatuum  homines  etiam  cum  toto  isto 
comitatu  multae  et  magna)  auctoritatis  viri,  Franeigense 
scilicet  et  Angli.  In  horum  omnium  praesentia  multis 
et  apcrtissimis  rationibus  demonstratum  fuit  quod  rex 
Anglorum  nullas  consuetudines  habet  in  omnibus  terris 
Cantuariensis  ecclesise  nisi  solummodo  tres.  Et  ilia) 
tres,  quas  habet,  consuetudines  ha?  sunt  j  una,  si  quis 
homo  archiepiscopi  effodit  illam  regalem  viam  quae 
vadit  de  civitate  in  civitatem.  Altera,  si  quis  arborem 
incidit  juxta  regalem  viam  et  earn  super  ipsam  viam 
dejecerit.  De  istis  duabus  consuetudinibus  qui  culpa- 
biles  inventi  fuerint  atque  detenti,  dum  talia  faciunt, 
sive  vadimonium  ab  eis  acceptum  foerit  sive  non,  tamen 
in  secutione  ministri  regis  et  per  vadimonium  emenda- 
bunt  quse  injuste  emendanda  sunt.  Tertia,  consuetudo 
talis  est.  Si  quis  in  ipsa  regali  via  sanguinem  fuderit, 
aut  homieidium  vel  aliud  aliquid  feccrit  quod  nullatenus 
fieri  licet,  si  dum  hoc  facit  deprehensus  atque  detentus 
i'uerit,  regi  emendabit.  Si  vero  deprehensus  ibi  non 
fuerit,  et  hide  absque  vade  dato  semel  abierit,  rex  ab  eo 
nihil  juste  exigere  poterit.  Similiter  fuit  ostensum  in 
eodem  placito  quod  archiepiscopus  Cantuariensis  ecclesise 
in  omnibus  terris  regis  et  comitis  debet  multas  consue- 
tudines juste  habere.  Etenim  ab  illo  die,  quo  clauditur 
Alleluya  usque  ad  octavas  Paschse,  si  quis  sanguinem 
fuderit,  archiepiseopo  emendabit.  Et  in  omni  tempore 
lam  extra  quadragesimam  quam  inl'ra,  quicunque  illam 
eulpam     I'eeerit    quae   childwite   vocatur,   archiepiscopus 


WILLIAM    1.  (J 

aut  totam  aut  dimidiam  emendationis  partem  habebit. 
Infra  quadragesimam  quidem,  totam  ;  et  extra,  aut  totam 
aut  dimidiam  emendationem.  Ilabet  etiam  in  eisdem 
terris  omnibus  qusecunque  ad  curam  et  salutem  anima- 
rum  videntur  pertinere.  IIujus  plaeiti  multis  testibus 
multisque  rationibus  determinatum  finem  postquam  rex 
audivitj  laudavit,  laudans  cum  consensu  omnium  princi- 
pum  suorum  confirmavit,  et  ut  deinceps  incorruptus 
perseveraret,  firmiter  pra3cepit. 

Eadmcr  says  concerning  this  case :  "  Hie  [i.  e.  Odo]  domina- 
tione  qua  iramensum  sustollebatur,  uon  modo  terras,  sed  et  libertatem 
nominates  ecclesiso,  nullo  ei  resistente,  multipliciter  invaserat,  op- 
presserat,  tenebat.  Qua),  ubi  Lanfrancus,  ut  erant,  didicit,  apud 
regeru  de  illis  egit  sicut  oportere  sciebat.  Undo  praocepit  rex,  qua- 
tenus  adunatis  primoribus  et  probis  viris  non  solum  de  comitatu 
Cautiao  sod  et  do  aliis  comitatibus  Anglia),  querelas  Lanfranci  in 
medium  ducerentur,  examinarentur,  determinarentur.  Disposito 
itaque  apud  Pinendene  principum  conventu  Goffridus  episcopus  Con- 
stantiensis,  vir  ea  tempestate  prasdives  in  Anglia,  vice  regis  Lanfranco 
justitiam  de  suis  querelis  strenuissime  facere  jussus,  fecit.  Lanfran- 
cus enim  valida  ratione  subnixus,  ex  communi  omnium  astipulatione 
et  judicio,  ibi  cuncta  recuperavit  qua?  ostensa  sunt  antiquitus  ad  jura 
ecclesias  Christi  Cantuariensis  pertinuisse,  tam  in  terris  quam  in  di- 
versis  consuetudiuibus."     Hist.  Novorum,  9  (Selden). 

The  record  is  not  clear  concerning  the  nature  of  the  trial,  but  it  is 
not  improbable  that,  as  to  facts  not  attested  by  charter,  the  new  pro- 
cedure by  inquisition  was  employed.  Brady  says  of  the  case  :  "  The 
King's  Commissioners  were  topronounco  the  judgment,  in  the  King's 
name  or  stead.  So  the  bishop  of  Constance  did  right  to  Lanfranc. 
The  inquest  upon  their  oaths  found  the  matter  of  fact ;  the  judges 
stated  it  to  the  people,  and  delivered  their  judgment,  to  which  the 
primores  and  probi  homines  assented;  for  it  was  ex  communi  omnium 
astvpulatione."  1  Hist,  of  England,  191.  Here  and  elsewhere  ho 
speaks  of  the  trial  as  an  inquisition.     lb.  p.  193,  "  these  jurors." 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  case  was  decided  by  battlo  ;  nor  is  it 
likely  that  it  was  decided  by  tho  ordeal.  It  is  almost  as  improbable 
that  the  facts  were  determined  by  wager  of  law. 


10  PLACITA     VNGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[Bishop   Odo    v.    Archbishop    Lanfranc.    Probable 
s00x  afteb  the  foregoing  trial.]1 

[After  tlio  foregoing  trial,  Odo,  by  permission  of  the  king  (his  half- 
brother),  institutes  a  suit  for  the  purpose  of  annulling  the  judg- 
ment rendered,  and  regaining  the  lands  adjudged  to  Lanfranc. 
T<>  this  suit .  men  skilled  in  the  hnv  are  summoned,  and,  Lanfranc 
failing  to  appear, Odo  succeeds  in  hispurpose.  TheresuH  is  now 
reported  to  Lanfranc  by  his  men,  and  the  proceedings  narrated. 
Lanfrano  detects  an  error  in  the  pleadings,  and  accordingly 
summons  a  court  for  the  next  day,  when  the  judgment  in  favour 
of  Odo  is  set  aside.] 

Item  alio  tempore  idem  Odo, permittente  rege,  placitum 
instituit  contra  ssepefatam  ecclesianij  et  tntorem  ejus 
patrem  Lanfrancum,  et  illuc  omnes  quos  peritiores 
legum,  et  usuum  Anglici  regni  noverat,  gnarus  adduxit. 
Cum  igitur  ad  eventilationem  causarum  ventum  esset, 
omnes  qui  tuendis  ecclesiae  causis  quaque  convenerant 
in  primo  congressu  ita  convicti  sunt,  ut  in  quo  eas 
tuerentur  simul  amitterent.  Ipse  nam  que  Lanfrancus 
non  intererat.  Talibus  enim,  nisi  necessitas  summa 
urgeret,  ei  interesse  moris  non  erat.  Ipsi  ergo  in  camera 
lectionse  divinse  occupato  quid  g-estum  fuerit  nunciatur. 
At  ille,  nil  corde  perterritus,  dicta  adversariorum  non 
recte  processisse  asseruit,  et  ideo  cuneta  in  erastinum 
induciari  prsecepit.  Sequenti  nocte,  adest  in  visu  ant i- 
stiti  beatus  Dunstanus,  monens  ne  ilium  multitndo 
conturbet,  sed  de  prsesentia  sui  seeurus  placitum  mane 
ipsemel  hilaris  intret,  quod  et  fecit.  Suas  itaque  causas 
quodam  exordio  quasi  a  rebus  qusa  fcractatse  fueranl  vel 
tractandse  penitus  alieno  cunctis  stupentibus  orsus,  ita 
processil  ut  quaj  super  cum  pridie  dicta  fuerunt  sic 
devincerel  el  inania  esse  monstraretj  ut  donee  vitae  prae- 
aenti  superfuit,  nullus  exurgerel  qui  inde  contra  cum  os 
aperiret. 

II  i  i    Nm\  oruD    3  (Si  Iden). 


william  i.  11 

[Case  of  Ralph  Breton  and  Roger  de  Breteuil. 
1075.] ' 

[The  defendants,  having  revolted,  are  summoned  to  the  King's  Court 
in  England  to  answer  a  charge  of  treason.  Refusing  to  attend, 
they  are  attacked  and  overcome  by  the  king's  forces,  and  their 
followers  are  maimed.  The  king,  having  returned  from  Normandy, 
summons  a  council  to  try  the  rebels,  and  Roger,  appearing,  is 
adjudged  guilty,  disinherited  and  imprisoned,  according  to  the 
Norman  law. J 

[Ralph  Breton,  earl  of  Norfolk,  and  Roger  de  B.,  earl 
of  Hereford,  having-  revolted  against  the  king]  Guillel- 
rans  itaque  de  Guarenna  et  Ricardus  de  Benefacta, 
filius  Gisleberti  comitis,  quos  rex  prcecipuos  Anglise 
justitiarios  constituerat  in  regni  negotiis,  rebellantes 
oonvocant  ad  curiam  regis.  Uli  vero  prseceptis  eorum 
obsecundare  contemnunt;  sed  proterviam  prosequi  con- 
antes,  in  regios  satellites  prseliari  elignnt.  Nee  mora 
Guillelmus  et  Ricardus  exercitum  Angliae  coadunant, 
acriterque  contra  seditiosos  in  campo,  qui  Fagaduna 
dicitur,  dimicant.  Obstantes  vero  Dei  virtute  super- 
ant,  et  omnibus  captis,  cujuscumque  conditionis  sint, 
dextrum  pedem,  ut  notificentur,  amputant. 

[The  king,  returning  from  Normandy,  now  summons  a  council  of 
his  great  men,  including  the  rebels.] 

Rogerius  vero  de  Britolio  comes  Here forden sis  ad 
curiam  regis  vocatus  venit,  et  inquisitus  manifestam  toti 
mundo  proditionem  negare  non  potuit.  Igitur  secundum 
leges  Normannorum  judicatus  est,  et  amissa  omni  hsere- 
ditate  terrena  in  carcere  regis  perpetuo  damnatus  est. 

[Earl  Ralph,  not  appearing,  was  outlawed.  The  rebellion  grew 
out  of  a  conspiracy  at  Norwich.  See  Case  of  Earl  Walthcof,  p.  12, 
and  note.] 

'  2  Ord.  Vital.  262,  2(«  (French  Hist.  Soc). 


12  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOliMANNICA. 


[Case  of  Earl  Waltheop.     1075.]1 

[Earl  Walthcof  is  accused  by  his  enemies  of  treason  to  king  William, 
his  offence  being  a  failure  to  disclose  a  conspiracy  against  the 
king  to  which  he  was  invited,  bul  refused,  to  become  a  party.  The 
court  at  first  decline  to  pronounce  him  guilty;  but  afterwards 
the  earl's  enemies  succeed  in  obtaining  a  majority  of  the  court, 
and  the  earl  is  condemned  to  death.] 

Guallevus  comes  ad  regem  accersitus  est,  et  per  de- 
lationem  Judith  uxoris  sua?  accusatus  est,  quod  prse- 
dictffi  proditionis2  .consents  et  fautor  f'uerit,  dominoque 
suo  infidelis  extiterit.  Ille  autem  intrepidus  palam  re- 
eognovit  quod  proditorum  nequissimam  voluntatem  ab 
eis  audierit;  sed  eis  in  tarn  nefanda  re  nullum  omnino 
assensum  dederit.3  Super  hac  confessione  judicium  in- 
dagatum  est,  et  censorious  inter  se  diversa  sentientibus 
per  plures  inducias  usque  in  annum  protelatum  est. 
Interea  praefatus  heros  apud  Guentam  in  carcere  regis 

erat Denique  pra3valens  concio  aemulorum  ejus 

in  curia  regali  coadunata  est ;  eumque  post  multos 
tractatus  reum  esse  mortis  defiuitum  est,  qui  sodalibus 
de  morte  domini  sui  tractantibus  consenserit,  nee  eos 
pro  herili  exitio  perculerit,  nee  apcrta  delatione  scelerosam 
{'actionem  detexerit. 

>  2  Ord.  Vital.  2G5  (French  Hist.  Soc). 

2  Againsl  William  I. 

3  He  had   n  fused  to  join  the  conspiracy,  but  had  not  disclosed  its 

nee;  the  conspiracy  referred  to  being  the  determination  of  the 
earls  of  Norfolk  and  Eereford,  ai  Norwich,  to  revolt  againsi  the 
king,  the  result  of  which  is  Been  in  the  preceding  case. 


WILLIAM     I.  13 

[Ahbot  Scotland  v.  Hamo,  the  Sheriff.     107G.]1 

[Writ  of  llio  king  commanding  rcscisin  of  lands  to  bo  given  to  tho 
church  of  St.  Augustine,  of  which  it  had  been  unjustly  depi  ived  ; 
followed  by  a  grant  of  (probably)  the  same  lands  by  the  bishop 
of  Bayenx,  -with  the  king's  licence.] 

WlLLELMUSj  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco 
archiepiscopo  Cantuariensi  et  Godefrido  episcopo  Con- 
stantiniensi,  et  Roberto  eomiti  de  Ou,  et  Hugoni  de 
Monteforti,  suisque  aliis  proceribus  regni  Anglise,  salu- 
tem.  Mando  et  prsecipio,  ut  faciatis  Sanctum  Augus- 
tinum  et  abbatem  Scotlandum  resaysire  burgum  de 
Fordwich,  quern  tenet  Hamo  vicecomes,  omnesque 
alias  terras,  quas  abbas  Alsinus  fugitivus  meus,  vel 
levitate,  vel  timore,  vel  cupiditate  alicui  dedit,  vel  habere 
consensit.  Et  si  aliquis  aliqua  violentia  inde  aliquid 
abstraxerit,  vos  illos,  velint  nolint,  constringite  reddere. 
Valete.  Teste  Odo  episcopo  Baiocensi,  in  dedicatione 
Baiocensi. 

[The  following  grant  of  lands  and  customs  at  Ford  wick  appears 
of  the  next  year.]2 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo 
Cantuariensi  et  Haraoni  vicecomiti,  et  R.  filio  comitis 
G.,  et  Haimoni  vicecomiti,  et  omnibus  tamnis  de  Kent, 
Francigenis  et  Auglicis,  salutem.  Sciatis  episcopum 
Baiocensem  fratrem  meum,  pro  amore  Dei  et  pro  salute 
animse  mese  et  sua,  dedisse  Sancto  Augustino  quicquid 
habet  Fordwicum,  tarn  in  terris  et  pratis  et  domibus  et 
consuetudinibus,  quam  in  aliis  rebus,  et  quod  dedit 
licentia  mea  sciatis  ilium  dedisse. 

i  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  352  (Roc.  Com.). 

2  lb.    This  grant  was  caused,  perhaps,  by  the  above  writ. 


l4  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  Gausbert  v.  Bishop  Stigamd.     Ecclesiastical. 
About  1076.]  > 

[The  bishop  of  Chichester  required  by  the  kin,^  to  induct  the  abbot 
of  Battel  at  Battel  Abbey.] 

Gausberto  itaque  electo,  cum  ad  eum  benedicendum 
episcopus  Cicestrensis  Stigandus  nullatenus  assentiret, 
nisi  Cieestriam  benedicendus  adiret,  regem  hac  de  causa 
providus  abbas  caute  adivit  ;  causam  exposuit,  quid 
agendum  foret  inquisivit.  Quo  cognito,  indignatus  rex 
episcopo  interminatus  praecepit,  quatinus  abbatem  in 
ecclesia  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello,  omni  remota  calumnia, 
benediceret ;  eo  etiam  modo,  ut  illic  ipse,  vel  suorum 
aliquis,  eodem  die  ex  consuetudine  nee  hospitarefcur  nee 
cibum  quidem  sumeret,  in  testimonium  videlicet  liber- 
tatis  ejusdem  ecclesia3. 


[Same  Parties.     Ecclesiastical.]2 

[Freedom  of  Battel  Abbey  from  jurisdiction  of  the  bishop  of  Chiches- 
ter determined  by  the  King's  Court.] 

Abbate  igitur  Gausberto,  et  regise  majestatis  reverentia, 
et  propria  prudentia,  plurimum  coram  regni  primoribus 
honoris  locum  optinente,  episcopi  tamen  Cicestriae  ssepius 
lDfestatione  vexabatur.  Ipsum  nempe  sinodum  apud 
Cieestriam  adire  summonebat,  abbatiam  quasi  ad  suam 
diocesim  pertjnentem  plurimis  calumniis  opprimere 
quaTebat,  ut  scilicet  in  ea  vel  in  his,  qua'  illius  erant, 
sibi  aut  ecclesiae  sua?  aditus  dominandi  aliquis  pateret. 
Quod  praecavens  abbas,  hsec  iterum  regia?  intulit  aulae. 

1  Chron.  Mon.  i  Soc).  2  lb.  26. 


WILLIAM    I.  15 

Cujus  rei  causa  coram  regis  curia  ventilata,  statutum  est 
in  commuui,  ut  de  eadem  ecclesia  et  leuga  circumjacentc 
se  episcopus  non  intromitteret,  sed  abbas  ecclesia?  sua?  et 
leugae  circumjacentis  judex  sit  et  dominus,  ut  servi  Dei 
secularibus  curis  expedite  soli  Deo  et  saluti  omnium1 
intenderent,  et  sua?  ecclesia?  cum  prsedicta  leuga,  et  secu- 
lari  et  ecclesiastico  more  pra?essent,  episcopo  ha?c  et 
reliqua  quae  praedicta  sunt  cum  regali  auctoritate  con- 
firmante. 

[The  following  appears  to  have  been  the  confirmation  granted.]  2 

Willielmus  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglorum,  tam  clericis 
quam  laicis  per  Angliam  constitutis,  salutem.  Notum 
sit  vobis,  me  concessisse  et  confirmasse,  assensu  Lanfranci 
archiepiscopi  Cantuariensis,  et  Stigandi  episcopi  Cices- 
trensis,  et  consilio  etiam  episcoporum  ac  baronum 
meorum,  ut  ecclesia  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello,  quam 
fundavi  ex  voto  ob  victoriam  quam  mihi  Deus  in  eodem 
loco  contulit,  libera  sit  et  quieta  in  perpetuum  ab  omni 
servituteet  omnibus  qua?cunque  humana  mens  excogitare 
potest,  cum  omnibus  dignitatibus  et  consuetudinibus  re- 
gal ibus  quas  ei  regali  auctoritate  concessi,  sicut  carta? 
mea?  testantur.  Volo  itaque  et  firmiter  pra?cipio,  quate- 
nus  ecclesia  ilia,  cum  leuga  circumquaque  adjacente, 
libera  sit  ab  omni  dominatione  et  oppressione  episcopo- 
rum, sicut  ilia  qua?  mihi  cor  on  am  tribuit,  et  per  quam 
viget  decus  nostri  regiminis.  Nee  liceat  episcopo  Cices- 
trensij  quamvis  in  illius  dicecesi  sit,  in  ecclesia  ilia,  vel 
in  maneriis  ad  earn  pertinentibus  ex  consuetudine  hos- 
pitari,  contra  voluntatem  abbatis;  nee  ordinationes 
aliquas  ibidem  1'acere,  nee  abbatiam  in  aliquo  gravare. 
Sed  neque  super  illam,  dominationem  aliquam,  aut  vim, 

1  aniiiianim  ?  -    Hist.  Novoruin,  1G5  (Selden). 


L6  PI. ACUTA    ANOI.O-NORMANNICA. 

vcl  potestatem,  exerceat,  sod,  sicut  mea  dominica  capella, 
libera  sit  omnino  ab  omui  ejus  exactione.  Ad  synodum 
vero  abbas  ire  non  summoniatur  nee  compellatur,  nisi 
propria  voluntate  pro  aliquo  negotio  ire  voluerit.  Nee 
monachos  suos,  ubi  sibi  opportunius  viderit,  ad  sacros 
ordines  promoveri  facere  prohibeatur.  Nee  altarium 
sacrationes,  confirmationes,  vel  quaslibct  episcopates 
benedictiones,  abbatis  vel  monaehorum  requisitione  a 
quolibet  episcopo  ibidem  libere  fieri,  ab  aliquo  contra- 
dicatur.  Hoc  etiam  regali  auctoritate,  et  episcoporum, 
ac  baronum  mcorum  attestatione,  constituo,  quatenus 
abbas  ecclesise  sua?,  et  leugse  circumjacentis  per  omnia 
judex  sit,  et  dominus.  Defuneto  abbate,  de  eadem 
ecclesia,  abbas  eligatur,  nisi  forte  (quod  absit)  ibidem 
idonea  persona  reperiri  non  possit.  Hanc  constitutionem 
meam,  sic  voto  et  regali  auctoritate  confirmatam,  nullus 
successorum  meorum  violare,  vel  imminuere  prcesumat. 
Quieunque  igitur  contra  libertates  vel  dignitates  ejusdem 
ecclesia)  fecerit,  forisfactura?  regia?  corona?  subjaceat. 
Hujus  rei  testes  sunt,  Lanfrancus  archiepiscopus  Can- 
tuariensis,  Stigandus  Cicestrensis  episcopus,  Walkelinus 
episcopus  Wintonicnsis,  Wulstanus  Wigorniensis  epis- 
copus.  Qui  omnes,  me  prsesente,  et  audiente,  ho  rum 
prseceptorum  meorum  et  constitutionum  violatores  per- 
petuo  anathemate  damnaverunt.     Aj)ud  Winton. 


[Bishop  "Wui.fstan  v.  Abbot  Walter.     About  1077 ?]' 

'  Bishop  Wiill'-nm   claims   the  righl    to   various   services   of  ;i ! >i ><^t, 
Walter,  which  are  refused  by  him.     An  assembly  of  "counties 

i  Thorpe's  I  >ipl.  1 10.     See  Appendix. 


WILLIAM    I.  17 

and  barons"  being  held  before  the  king's  justiciar,  Geoffrey, 
bishop  of  Coufcarioes,  fche  plaintiff  advances  his  claim  against  the 
abbot,  and  the  abbot  denies  it.  The  plaintiff  now  claims  the 
right  to  call  legal  witnesses  who  had  seen  and  performed  the  ser- 
vices in  the  time  of  Edward  fche  Confessor.  It  was  accordingly 
determined  that  tho  plaintiff  should  name  his  witnesses  and  pro- 
duce them  upon  a  day  stated,  and  thai  the  abbot,  who  had 
said  he  had  no  witnesses,  should  bring  any  relies  he  could  obtain. 
The  plaintiffs  witnesses  appear  at  the  time  (set  by  writ  of  the 
justiciar),  prepared  to  make  the  proper  oath,  and  the  defendant 
appears  with  tho  relics  of  St.  Egwin ;  but  by  advice  of  friends, 
the  defendant  confesses  judgment.] 

Hec  commemoratio  placiti,  quod  fuit  inter  W.  epis- 
copum  et  Walterum  abbatem  de  Eovesham  :  hoc  est,  quod 
ipse  episcopus  reclamabat  super  ipsum  abbatem  sacam, 
et  socam,  et  sepulturam,  et  circsceat,  et  requisitions,  et 
omnes  consuetudines  faciendas  ecclesiae  Wigorniensi  in 
liundredo  de  Oswaldeslawe,  et  geldum  regis,  et  servi- 
tium,  et  expeditiones  in  terra  et  in  mari,  de  XV.  liidis  de 
Hantona,  et  de  IIII.  hidis  de  Benningewrde,  quas 
debebat  abbas  tenere  de  episcopo,  sicut  alii  feudati 
ecclesiae  ad  omne  debitum  servitium  regis  et  episcopi 
libere  tenent.  De  hac  re  fuit  magna  contentio  inter 
episcopum  et  abbatem,  qui  abbas  diu  resistens  injuste  hoc 
defendebat.  Ad  ultimum  tamen  haec  causa  ventilata  et 
discussa  fuit  per  justitiam,  et  breve  et  preceptum  regis 
Willelmi  senioris,  quod  misit  de  Normannia,  in  presentia 
Gosfridi  Constantiensis  episcopi,  cui  rex  mandaverat  ut 
interesset  predicto  placito,  et  face  ret  discernere  veritatem 
inter  episcopum  et  abbatem,  et  fieri  plenam  rectitudinem. 
Ventum  est  in  causam.  Conventus  magnus  factus  est 
in  Wirecestra  vicinorum  comitatuum  et  baronum  ante 
Gosfridum  episcopum.  Discussa  est  res;  facta  est 
supradicta  reclamatio  W.  episcopi  super  abbatem.  Abbas 
hanc  def'endit,  episcopus  legitimos  testes  inde  reclamavit, 
qui   tempore   regis    Edwardi   hoc   viderant,  et  predicta 

c 


18  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOltMANNICA. 

servitia   ad    opus    episcopi    susceperant.1     Tandem    ex 
precepto  justitise  regis,  et  decreto  baronum,  Hum  est  ad 
juditium  :  et  quia  abbas  dixit,  se  testes  contra  episcopum 
non  habere,  judicatum  est  ab  optimatibus,  quod  episcopus 
testes  suos  nominaret,  et  die  constituta  adduceret,  et  per 
sacramentum  dicta  episcopi  probarcnt,   et  abbas  quas- 
cunque  vellet  reliquias  afferret.   Concessum  est  ab  utraquc 
parte.    Venit  dies  statuta.    Venit  episcopus  W.  et  abbas 
Walterus,  et  ex   precepto  Gosfridi    episcopi;    affuerunt 
barones  qui  interfuerant  priori  placito  etjuditio.    Attulit 
abbas  relliquias,  scilicet  corpus    Sancti  Ecguuini.     lbi 
affiierunt  ex  parte   episcopi  probabiles  persona?,  paratse 
facere  predictum  sacramentum,  quarum  unus  fuit  Edri- 
cus,  qui  fuit,  tempore  regis  Edvvardi,  stermannus  navis 
episcopi,  et  ductor  exercitus  ejusdem  episcopi  ad  scrvi- 
tium  regis;  et  hie  erat   homo  Rodberti    Herefordensis 
episcopi,  ea  die  qua  sacramentum  optulit,  et  niehil  de 
episcopo   W.  tenebat.     Aii'uit   etiam    Kinewardus,  qui 
fuit   vicecomes    Wirecestrescire,   qui  hoc   vidit,   et    hoc 
testabatur.     Affuit  etiam  Siwardus  dives  homo  de  Scrop- 
scvri',  et  Osbernus   tilius  Ricardi,  et  Turchil  de  Ware- 
wicscyre,  et  multi  alii  seniores  et  nobiles,  quorum  major 
pars  jam  dormiunt.      Multi    autem    adhuc  superstites 
sunt,  qui  illos  audierunt,  et  adhuc  multi  de  tempore  regis 
Willelmi  idem  testih'cantes.     Abbas  autem  videns  sacra- 
mentum ct    probationem  totam  paratam  esse,  et  nullo 
modo   remanere  si    vellet   recipere,  accepto    ab   amicis 
consilio,  episcopo  demisit  sacramentum,  et  totam  quere- 
lam  recognovit,  el  omnem  rem  sicul  episcopus  reclama- 

1  The  king's  wrii  directed  tha<   Hie  case  should   In-  decided  upon 
thr  rights  of  the  partii       icirl  i  i  [ua  aovissirae,  tempon 

Eduuardi,  geldum  acceptum  f uil  ad  navigium  faciendum.    1  Monasti- 
con,  601  (ed.  L846).     See  Appendix. 


WILLIAM     I.  J9 

veratj  et  hide,  concord  iam  se  facturum  cum  cpiscopo, 
conventioncm  fecit.  Et  inde  sunt  legitimi  testes  apud 
nos,  milites,  homines  Sanctse  Marise,  et  episcopi,  qui  hoc 
viderunt  et  audierunt,  parati  hoc  probare  per  sacramen- 
tum  et  bellum  contra  Rannulfum  fratrem  ejusdem 
Walteri  abbatis,  quern  ibi  viderunt,  qui  cum  f'ratre  suo 
tenebat  illud  placitum  contra  episcopum,  si  hanc  con- 
ventionem  negare  voluerit,  factam  inter  episcopum  et 
abbatem.  Habemus  etiam  sacri  ordinis  viros,  sacerdotes 
et  diaconos,  paratos  illud  aflirmare  juditio  Dei. 

[The  king's  writ  of  execution  of  above.] 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum  V.  vicecomiti,  et  Osberno 
filio  Escrop,  et  omnibus  Francis  et  Anglis  de  Wiriceas- 
trescyre,  salutem.  Volo  et  precipio,  ut  episcopus 
Wulfstanus  ita  pleniter  habeat  socam,  et  sacam,  et 
servitia,  et  omnes  consuetudines  ad  suum  hundred  et 
ad  terras  suas  pertinentes,  sicut  melius  habuit  in 
tempore  regis  Edwardi ;  et  de  terris  quas  ipse  diratio- 
cinavit  abbatem  de  Eovesham  de  suo  feudo  tenere, 
scilicet  IIII.  hidas  ad  Benninguurde,  et  domos  in  civitate, 
precipio,  ut,  si  abbas  illas  vult  habere,  sibi  inde  serviat, 
sicut  alii  sui  feudati.  Et  de  XV.  hidis  de  Hantona,  undo 
episcopus  diratiocinavit  socam,  et  geldum,  et  expeditio- 
nem,  et  cetera  mea  servitia  ad  suum  hundred,  et 
cirieheseot,  et  sepulturam  ad  suam  villam  pertinere, 
precipio,  ne  ullus  ei  contra  teneat,  sed  sic  habeat  omnia 
de  illis  ad  meum  opus  et  suum,  sicut  coram  Gosfrido 
cpiscopo,  et  coram  vobis,  secundum  meum  preceptum, 
testante  vicecomitatu,  diratiocinatum  et  juratum  est, 
teste  ipso  Gosfrido  episcopo  et  E.  de  Ivereio. 


c  % 


sjo  placita  anglo-nollmannica. 

[Bishop  Odo  v.  Walter  oe  Evesham.    About  1077.] ' 

[Walter,  abbot  of  Evesham,  following  advice,  refuses  to  receive 
homage  from  many  of  his  men,  desiring  to  take  away  their  lands. 
The  men  in  anger  go  to  Odo,  the  king's  half-brother,  and  allege 
thai  Walter's  predecessor  had  come  into  possession  of  the  lands  in 
question  by  unlawful  means  ;  whereupon  ho  assembles  five  shires, 
and  by  their  judgment  recovers  twenty-eight  towns  of  the  abbot. 
The  abbot,  however,  institutes  acounter-suit,  and  succeeds  in  re- 
gaining possession  of  them.] 

Hie  [Walterus]  vero  abbas  effectus,  oranem  abbatiam 
banc  sicuti  antecessor  suus  habebat  suscepit.  Sed  quia 
tune  temporisjuvenis  erat  setate,  minus  sseculari  prudentia 
prsftditus  quam  oporteret,  sequens  consilia  quorundam 
juvenum  parentum  suorum  ad  maximum  damnum 
ecclesiae,  noluit  homagium  a  pluribus  bonis  hominibus 
quos  prasdecessor  suus  habuerat  suscipere,  eo  quod  terras 
omnium  si  posset  decrevit  auferre.  Qua  de  re  in  iram 
et  odium  contra  eum  eonversi,  ad  Odonem  fratrem  regis, 
Baiocensis  ecclesia)  episcopum,  qui  tunc  temporis  sub 
rege  quasi  quidam  tyrannus  praefuit  huic  patriae,  miserunt, 
falsa  aecusatione  dicentes  abbatem  Ageluuium8  per 
fortitudinem,  non  recto  jure,  tantas  terras  acquisivisse. 
Quapropter  prsesul  prsefatus,  nefandorum  hominum 
consilio  depravatus,  cupiditate  etiam  iniquissima  res 
ecclesiae  habendi  nimium  illectus,  regem  fratrem  adiit, 
et  tarn  pecunia  quam  iniquis  suis  accusationibus  terras 
sancti  monasterii  hujus  sibi  dari  obtinuit.  Protinus 
ergo  quasi  lupus  rapax  concilia  malignantium  in  loco  qui 
dicitur  Gildenebeorge  jubet  congregari,  quinque  videlicet 
sciras,  ibique  plus  per  suam  iniquam  potentiam  quam 
recto  jure  ex  triginta  sex  terris  quas  abbas  Ageluuius 


1  Chron.  Abb.  de  Evesham,  96  (Bee.  Com.). 
Walter's  prei 


WILLIAM    T.  21 

per  dignam  pecuniam  ecclesiae  acquisivit,  viginto  octo 
villas  fecit  cidcm  abjurari  et  suo  iniquo  dominio  usur- 
pari.  Quorum  nomina  hie  subtitulantur :  Beningwrthe, 
Heamtun,  Uptun,  Wittim,  Aruue,  Ecleshall,  Raggeleie, 
Saltford,  Eatheristun,  Brome,  Graftiine,  Ceasteltun,  et 
alia  Ceasteltun,  Cornuuelle,  Quenintun,  Sciptun,  Saltford, 
Deorneford,  Stoke,  Hudicote,  Peppeuurthe,  Dorsintun, 
Milecote,  et  alia  Milecote,  Actun,  Branesford,  Winleshale, 
Bivintone,  Budiford,  Eunilade,  Deilesford,  Westune 
Leinch  quam  Ursini  tenent  contra  Rotulum  Winton.1 
De  hiis  vero  Walterus  abbas  Westune  Hamptune  et 
medietatem  de  Beningwrthe  (quam  Ernegrim  tenuit) 
revocavit,  medietatem  vero  quam  episcopus  dedit  Assere 
occupavit  Urso. 

[Abbot  Walter  afterwards  recovered  these  lands  in  a  suit  before 
seven  shires.     See  the  writs  following:  —  ] 


[The  king's  writ  in  favour  of  abbot  Walter  as  to  the  above  lands.]  2 

W.  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo  et  Odoni 
Baiacensi  episcopo  et  omnibus  baronibus  suis  totius 
Anglise,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  dedisse  Deo  et  Sanctaa 
Mariae  et  Waltero  abbati  de  Evesham,  Westun  et 
Swellam  et  Beningwrtham  et  alias  terras  quas  ipse 
abbas  dirationavit  coram  multis  baronibus  meis  Agilde- 
burga,  et  volo  et  firmiter  praecipio  ut  cum  tali  lege 
et  libertate  teneat  ipsas  terras  sicut  unquam  antecessor 
ejus  melius  tenuit  tempore  regis  Edwardi  et  meo,  et 
praecipio  ut  nullus  super  defensionem  meam  de  illis 
terris  aliquam  calumniam  ei  faciat. 


1  Doomsday. 

2  Chron.  Abb.de  Eveshnm,  pref.  xlviii  (Hoc  Com.), 


22  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[Another  like  writ  by  Odo.  ]* 

Odo  Baiocensis  episcopus  Wlstano  episcopo,  Urso  et 
Durando  et  Wal^  vicecomitibus  de  Wireeestresliire  et 
Gloucestreshire  et  Warewicscire,  et  omnibus  fidelibus 
regis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem.  Sciatis  omnes  quod 
dominus  mens  Willielmus  rex  reddidit  Deo  et  ecclesise  de 
Evesham  et  Waltero  abbati  illas  terras  quas  ipse  abbas 
explacitavit  coram  YII.  schires  ad  Gildeneberga  contra 
omnes  injuste  eas  quserentes,  hoc  est,  Weston  et  Swella 
et  Beningwrtha  et  Bivinton,  Withlakesford  et  Oleberga 
et  Kinewarton  et  Hildeburewrtha  et  Rageleia,  et 
constanter  defendo  ex  parte  regis  ut  nullus  amplius 
super  hoc  ei  injustitiam  faciat,  sed  istas  et  omnes  alias 
terras  cum  magno  honore  et  pace  teneat,  et  nemini  inde 
respondeat  nisi  regi. 


[Lands  and  Liberties  of  the  Church  at  Ely.  1080.] 2 

[At  a  court  of  three  counties,  held  at  Kenetford,  the  abbot  of  Ely 
recovers  various  lands  and  franchises  of  the  church  of  which  it 
Lad  been  disseised  at  the  Conquest.] 

Anno  ab  incarnatione  Domini  millesimo  octogesimo,  in- 
dictione  undeeima,  epactse  XXVI.  quarto  nonas  Aprilis 
facta  est  discussio  libcrtatis  abbatice  Elyensis.  Qua) 
regis  Willelmi  def'ensione  quatuordecim  annis  neglecta 
iniqua  ministrorum  ejus  exactione  suffocata,  penitus 
extingui  formidabat  oppressa,  Godefrido  autem  mona- 

1  Chron.  Abb.  de  Evesham,  pref.  xlviii  (Kcc.  Com.). 

2  Liber  Eliensis,  251  (Aug.  Chris.  Soc).  The  above  title  is  used 
for  the  sake  of  convenience,  to  cover  several  different  litigations  by 
tho  church  at  Ely 


WILLIAM    I.  23 

dio  res  sanctoe1  proeurantc,  rex  tandem  respectu  divinae 
misericordiu'  instinctus  his  intendere,  principibus  circum- 
positis  per  Baiocensem  episcopum  prsecepit  haec  discutere, 
adunato  ad  Keneteford  trium  proximorum  comitatuum 
examine.  Cui  disputationi  multi  saspe  interfuerunt,  de 
quibus  aliquos  subscripsimus  qui  fincm  dissensionis  rata? 
conclusionis  fide  intulerunt.  Quatuor  abbates  cum  suis 
Francigenis  et  Anglis;  Baldewinus  iEdmundinensis, 
\V1  fwoldus  Certesiensis,  Ulfehetel  Crulandensis,  Alfvvoldus 
Holmensis :  legati  regis,  Rieardus  Alius  comitis  Gisleberti, 
Heimo  dapifer,  Thiel  de  Heruin ;  vieecomites  similiter 
cum  suis,  Picot,  Eustachius,  Radulfus,  Walterus.  Pro 
Rodgero  et  Rodberto  vieecomites  Harduuinus,  Wido, 
Winur,  Wihumur,  Odo,  Godricus,  Norman,  Colsuein, 
Godwinus.  Ceteriqui  plurimi  milites  probati  Fran ci  gen  se 
et  Angli  etiam  de  IIII.  comitatibus  iEsex,  Hereford, 
Huntendune,  Bedeford.  Est  autem  libertatis  hujus 
veneranda  quietatio  ut  sancta  regina  integerrime  sua 
possedit  ab  initio  et  regum  iEdgari  et  iEthelredi  et 
iEdwardi  comprobatur  privilegiis  quod  hsec  sanctorum 
et  maxime  iEthelwoldi  restaurata  sunt  studio,  et  ab 
omni  ssecularium  potestate  copiose  redempta  commercio, 
et  maligne  renitentibus  conscripta  et  conclamata  dampna- 
tionis  imprecatio.  Hanc  validissimam  discussionem  et 
cautissimam  institutionem  ne  qua  posset  inquietare 
calumpnia  provida  et  benevola  se  regis  accinxit  industria, 
prceceptis  earn  roborans,  edietis  confirmans,  beneficiis 
augens,  cartis  muniens,  quarum  unam  presenti  negotio 
adjacentem  rerum  series  exposcit  subscribi. 

Willelmus2  Auglorum   rex  omnibus  fidelibus  suis  et 

1  i.  c.  St.  Etheldreda. 

-  Liber  Eliensis,  252  (Aug.  Chris.  Soc). 


:li  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

vicecomitibus  in  quorum  vicecomitatibus  abbatia  de  Ely 
terras  habet  salutern.  Prsecipio  ut  abbatia  habeal 
omnes  consuetudines  suas  scilicet  sacham  et  socham,  toll 
et  team,  et  infanganetheof,  hamsocna  et  grithbriche, 
fihtwite  et  ferdwite  infra  burgum  et  extra,  et  omnes  alias 
forisfacturas  quse  emendabiles  sunt  in  terra  sua  super 
suos  homines.  Has  in  quam1  habeat  sicut  habuit  die 
qua  rex  Edwardus  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus  et  sicut  mea 
jussione  dirationatse  sunt  apud  Ceneteford  per  pluras 
scyres  ante  meos  ba rones,  videlicet  Gaufridum  Constan- 
eiensem  episcopum  et  Baldewinum  abbatem  et  abbatem 
iEilsi  et  Wlwoldum  abbatem  et  Ivonem  Taillebois,  et 
Petrum  de  Valloniis,  et  Picotum  vicecomitem  et  Tielum 
de  Helvin  et  Hugonem  de  Hosdeng  et  Gocelinum  de 
Norwic  et  plures  alios  teste  Rogero  Bigot. 

[An  inquisition  is  now  directed  by  the  king  in  regard  to  cer- 
tain lands  held  by  others  but  claimed  by  the  church,  as  the  title  stood 
when  Edward  the  Confessor  died,  with  orders  that  such  as  then  be- 
longed to  the  church  should  now  be  restored.] 

Willelmus?  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo, 
et  Rogero  comiti  Moritonii,  et  Gauffrido  Constantiensi 
episcopo  salutern.  Mando  vobis  et  prsecipio  ut  iterum 
faciatis  congregari  omnes  scyras  qure  interfuerunt  placito 
habito  de  terris  ecclesise  de  Heli,  antequam  mea  conjux 
in  Normanniam  novissime  veniret.  Cum  quibus  etiam 
sint  de  baronibus  meis  qui  competenter  adesse  poterunt, 
et  prsedicto  placito  interfuerunt,  et  qui  terras  ejusdem 
ecclesiso  tenent.  Quibus  in  unum  congregatis,  eli- 
gantur  plures  de  illis  Anglis  qui  sciunt  quomodo  terrte 
jacebanl  prsefatse  ecclesia3  die  qua  rex  Edwardus  obiit, 

1  in  quam  ? 

2  Libei   i  56  (  ^ng.  Chris.  Soc). 


WILLIAM    I.  25 

et  quod  inde  dixerint  ibidem  jurando  testentur.  Quo 
facto  restituantur  ecclesia?  terra?  qua?  in  dominio  suo 
erant  die  obitus  Edwardi,  exceptis  his  quas  homines 
clamabant  me  sibi  dedisse.  Illas  vero  litteris  mihi 
signate,  quae  sint  et  qui  eas  tenent.  Qui  autem  tenent 
theinlandes  qua?  proculdubio  debent  teneri  de  ecclesia, 
faciant  concordiam  cum  abbate  quam  meliorem  poterint, 
et  si  noluerunt  terra?  reman eant  ad  ecclesiam.  Hoc 
quoque  de  teuentibus  socam  et  sacam  fiat.  Denique 
prsecipite  ut  illi  homines  faciant  pontem  de  Heli,  qui 
meo  prsecepto  et  dispositione  hucusque  ilium  soliti 
sunt  facere. 


[The  following  writ  was  issued  concerning  those  who  claimed  under 
the  king,  an  exchange  of  lauds  being  promised.]1 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Gosfrido  episcopo,  et  Rod- 
berto  et  comiti  Moritonio,  salutem.  Facite  simul 
venire  omnes  illos  qui  terras  tenent  de  dominico  victu 
ecclesia?  de  Heli,  et  volo  ut  ecclesia  eas  habeat  sicut 
habebat  die  qua  Edwardus  rex  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus, 
et  si  aliquis  dixerit  quod  inde  de  meo  dono  aliquid 
habeat,  mandate  mihi  magnitudinem  terra?,  et  quomodo 
earn  reclamat,  et  ego  secundum  quod  audiero,  aut  ei 
inde  eseambitionem  reddam,  aut  aliud  faciam.  Facite 
etiam  ut  abbas  Symeon  habeat  omnes  consuetudines 
qua?  ad  abbatiam  de  Heli  pertinent,  sicut  eas  habebat 
antecessor  ejus  tempore  regis  Edwardi.  Praeterea  facite 
ut  abbas  saisitus  sit  de  illis  theinlandis  qua?  ad  abba- 
tiam pertinebant  die  quo  rex  Edwardus  fuit  mortuus, 
si  illi  qui  eas  habent  secum  concordare  noluerint,  et 
ad  istud  placitum  summonete  Willelmum  de  Gaurenna, 

1  Liber  Eliensis,  256  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 


26  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

et  Ricardum  filiura  comitis  Gisleberti,  et  Hugonem 
de  Monteforti,  et  Goffridum  de  Mannavilla,  et  Radul- 
fura  de  Belfo,  et  Herveum  Bituricensem,  et  Harde- 
vvinum  de  Escalers,  et  alios  quos  abbas  vobis  nomi- 
nabit. 

[Another  writ  of  the  king  concerning  lands  claimed  by  the  abbot 
of  Ely.]1 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo, 
et  Gosfrido  Constantiensi  episcopo,  salutern.  Facite 
abbatem  de  Heli  resaisiri  de  istis  terris  quas  isti  tencnt. 
Hugo  de  Monteforti,  unum  manerium  uomine  Berche- 
liam;  Ricardus  filius  comitis  Gisleberti,  Brochesheve; 
Picotus  vicecomes  Epintonam  ;  Hugo  de  Bernervi  III. 
liidas ;  Remigius  episcopus  I.  hidam  ;  episcopus  Baio- 
censis  II.  hidas;  Frodo  frater  abbatis  I.  manerium.  Duo 
carpentarii  I.  hidam,  et  III.  virgatas,  si  ipse  abbas  potcrit 
ostendere  supi'adictas  terras  esse  de  domiuio  sua?  eccle- 
sise,  et  si  supradicti  homines  non  poterint  ostendere 
ut  eas  terras  habuissent  de  dono  meo.  Facite  etiam 
ut  abbas  prsedictus  habeat  sacam  suam  et  socam,  et 
alias  consuetudines  sicut  antecessor  ejus  habuit,  die 
qua  rex  Edwardus  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus. 

[The  king's  writ  concerning  privileges  of  Ely  over  certain  hundreds 
of  Suffolk.]  2 

"Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo, 
Goisfrido  Constantinensi  episcopo,  et  Rodberto  comiti 
de  Moritonio,  salutern.  Facite  Simeonem  abbatem  habere 
socam  et  sacam  suam  prout  suus  antecessor  habuit, 
tempore  regis  Edwardi  videlicet   dc    quinquc    hundrez 

»    Liber  Elicnsis,  257  (Ang.  Chris.  Sue).  '  lb.  258. 


WILLIAM    I.  27 

tie  Suthfulch,  et  ab  omnibus  viris  qui  terras  tenent  in 
illis  hundrez,  videte  ne  abbas  prsedictus  quicquam  in- 
juste  perdat  et  facite  ut  omnia  sua  cum  magno  honore 
teneat. 

[The  king's  writ  forbidding  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  from  requiring 
new  customs  of  the  church  at  Ely,  &c]  l 

"Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo  et 
Goisfrido  episcopo,  et  Rodberto  comiti  de  Moritonio, 
salutem.  Defendite  ne  Remigius  episcopus  novas  con- 
suetudines  requirat  infra  insulam  de  Heli.  Nolo  enim 
ut  ibi  habeat,  nisi  illud  quod  antecessor  ejus  habebat 
tempore  regis  Eadwardi,  scilicet  qua  die  ipse  rex  mor- 
tuus  est,  et  si  Remigius  episcopus  inde  placitare  vo- 
luerit,  placitet  inde  sicut  fecisset  tempore  regis  Eadwardi, 
et  placitum  istud  sit  in  vestra  prsesentia.  De  custodia 
de  Norwic  abbatem  Symeonem  quietum  esse  dimittite, 
sed  ibi  munitionem  suam  conduci  faciat  et  custodiri. 
Facite  remanere  placitum  de  terris  quas  calumpniantur 
Willelmus  de  Ou  et  Radulfus  films  Gualeranni  et  Rod- 
bertus  Gernon  si  inde  placitare  noluerint,  sicut  inde 
placitassent  tempore  regis  Eadwardi,  et  sicut  in  eodem 
tempore  abbatia  consuetudines  suas  habebat,  volo  ut  eas 
omnino  faciatis  habere,  sicut  abbas  per  cartes  suas  et  per 
testes  suos  eas  deplacitare  potent. 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  induction  of  the  abbot  of  Ely,  &c] 2 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo, 
salutem.  Volo  ut  videas  carthas  abbatis  de  Heli,  et  si 
dicent  quod  abbas  ejusdem  loci  debeat  benedici  ubi- 
cumque  rex  illius  terrse  prsecipiet,  mando   ut  eum   ipsi 

»  Liber  Eliensis,  258  {Aug.  Chris.  Soc).  -  lb.  259. 


18  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

benedicas.  Prseterea  fac  ut  ill i  faciant  pontem  dc  Heli, 
sine  excusatione  qui  eum  soliti  sunt  faeere.  Inquire 
per  episcopum  Constantiensem,  et  per  episcopum  Walche- 
linum,  et  per  caeteros,  qui  terras  sanctse  iEtheldrithse, 
scribi  et  jurari  fecerunt,  quomodo  juratre  fuerunt,  et  qui 
eas  juraverunt,  et  qui  jurationem  audierunt,  et  quae  sunt 
terrae,  et  quanta?,  et  quot,  et  quomodo  vocatae,  et  qui  eas 
tenent.  His  distincte  notatis  et  scriptis,  fac  ut  scito 
inde  rei  veritatem  per  brevem  tuum  sciam  et  cum  eo 
veniat  legatus  abbatis. 

[The   king's   writ   commanding   that  the   customs   of  Ely   be   pre- 
served, &C.]1 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo,  et 
Goisfrido  Constanciarum  episcopo  atque  Rodberto  comiti, 
salutem.  Mando  vobis  ut  abbatem  de  Heli,  sine  dila- 
tione  habere  faciatis  benedictionem,  et  terras  suas  atque 
omnes  consuetudines  ut  vobis  saepe  per  breves  meos 
rnandavi.  Et  quicquid  ipse  per  placitum  de  dominio 
adquisierit;  nil  cuiquam  inde  tribuat  nisi  mea  licentia, 
et  sede  placitorum  ei  facite  rectum,  defendentes  ut  nullus 
ejus  incidat  silvas,  munitionemque  suam  habeat  in 
Norwic  et  homines  sui  sint  ibi  cum  opus  fuerit  omnia- 
que  sua  cum  honore  habeat  teste  Rogero  de  Ivreio. 

[Another  similar  writ  of  the  king.]2 

Willelmus  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo, 
et  Goisfrido,  salutem.  Volo  ut  consecratio  abbatis  de 
Heli  quam  Remigius  episcopus  requirit,  remaneat  donee 
per  litteras  tuas  cognoscam  si  Remigius  monstravit,  vol 
monstrare  poterit,  quod  antecessores  sui  abbates  de  Heli, 
consecrassent.     Quod  at  Christianitatem  pertinet  in  ilia 


i   Liber  Eliensis,  259  (Ang.  Chris.  Soo.).  2  lb.  260. 


WILLTAM    I.  29 

abbatia  fiat,  et  consuetudines  pro  quibus  Remigius 
vinum  requirit  ipse  liabeat  sicut  monstrare  poterit  ante- 
cessors ejus  habuisse  temporis  regis  Eadwardi.  Molen- 
dinum  de  Grantebrugge  quod  Picotus  fecit,  destruatur 
si  altera1  disturbat.  De  dominicis  terris  sanctsD 
iEtheldritlne  sit  abbas  saisitus  sicut  alia  vice  praecepi, 
qui  alteras  tenent  vel  socam  et  sacam,  dc  abbate  recog- 
noscant  et  deserviaut  aut  eas  dimittaut. 


CASES    OF  THIS    REIGN   OF  LESS   CERTAIN 
DATE. 

[Abbot  Serlo  v.  Archbishop  Thomas.]2 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  judgment  before  himself  in  favour  of  the 
plaintiff  as  to  certain  lands.] 

WiLLELMUS,rex  Anglorum,  Wlstano  episcopo  Wygorniae, 
et  Willelmo  filio  Osberti,  et  omnibus  baronibus  et 
ministris  suis  de  Gloucestria  et  de  Wyrecestresyra, 
salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse,  et  reddidisse,  atque 
confirmasse,  Deo,  et  Sancto  Petro  de  Gloucestria,  et 
Serloni  abbati,  et  monachis  ejusdem  ecclesise,  omnes 
terras  suas  quas  Thomas  archiepiscopus  Eboracensis 
injuste  tenebat,  scilicet  Lecche,  Otintona,  Stanedis,  cum 
omnibus  eisdem  pertinentibus,  sic  solutas  et  quietas, 
sicut  ante  me  recoguitum  est  easdem  terras  ad  ecclesiam 
praefatam  Sancti  Petri  de  Gloucestria  a  sui  principio 
pertinuisse,  et  eundem  archiepiscopum  nullum  jus  in 
illis  terris  habuisse.     Quare  volo  et  firmiter  praecipio  ut 

1  Other  MSS.  "  alteram." 

2  2  Chron.  Mon.  Grlouc.  107  (Kec.  Com.). 


30  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

ecclesia  pramominata  de  Gloucestria  has  supradictas 
terras  cum  omnibus  sibi  pertinentibus,  bene  et  in  pace, 
libere  et  quiete,  et  honorifice  teneat,  cum  sacca,  et  socna, 
et  tollio,  et  theam,  et  infangenetheof,  et  cum  omnibus 
rectitudinibus,  legibus,  et  cousuetudmibus,  quas  eidem 
ecclesias  nostra  regia  potestate  concessi.  Et  defendo 
super  hoc  ne  aliquis  ei  injuriam  vel  torturam  sive 
calumniam  faciat  super  forisfacturam  meam.  Testibus 
Lan franco  archiepiscopo,  Galfrido  episcopo  de  Constan- 
tiis,  et  Roberto  comite  de  Moretane. 


[Case  of  Bishop  Remigius.]1 

[Acquitted  of  charge  of  treason  by  the  ordeal  of  fire,  undergone  by 
one  of  the  defendant's  household.] 

[Remigius  cpiscopus]  de  regia  quoque  proditione  fuit 
aliquando  accusatus,  sed  quidam  famulus  ejus  igniti 
judicio  ferri  dominum  purgans,  regio  amori  restituit. 


[Abbot  Athellelm  v.  Officers  of  the  King.]2 

[The  king  by  his  writ  directs  that  the  customs  of  Abingdon,  as  they 
may  be  proved  by  the  abbot,  shall  be  respected.  The  rights  of 
the  church  proved  by  a  charter  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  by 
the  testimony  of  the  county  j  t  he  abbot  being  assisted  by  certain 
lawyers.] 

Willelmus,    rex   Anglorum,    Lanfranco   archiepiscopo, 
Roberto  de  Oilleio,  et  Rogero  dc  Pistri,  et  omnibus  alii?, 

1  2  Rog.  de  Wend.  24  (Eng.  Hist.  Soc). 
-  2  Eist.  Mon.  de  Abingd.  1  (Rcc.  Com.). 


WILLIAM    I.  31 

fidelibus  suis  totius  regni  Anglia?,  salutem.  Sciatis  me 
coneessisse  Sancta?  Mariae  de  Abbendonia,  et  Athellelmo 
abbati  ejusdem  loci,  omnes  consuestudines  terrarurn 
suarum,  quaecunque  jacent  in  ecclesia  prrcdicta,  ubi- 
curaque  eas  habeat,  in  burgo  vel  extra  burgum,  secundum 
quod  abbas  iste  Athellelmus  poterit  dcmonstrare,  per 
breve  vel  cartam,  ecclesiam  Sancta?  Marias  de  Abben- 
dona,  et  praedecessorem  suum;  eas  consuetudines  habuisse 
dono  regis  Eadwardi. 

Quarum  recitatio  literarum  in  Berkescire  comitatu 
prolata  plurimum  et  ipsi  abbati  et  ecelesia?  commodi 
attulit.  Siquidem  regii  officiales  illis  diebus  hominibus 
in  ecelesia?  possessionibus  diversis  locorum  manentibus 
multas  inferebant  injurias ;  nunc  has,  nunc  vero  illas 
consuetudines,  eis  pati  satis  graves,  ingerentes.  Sed 
exhibitis  praedictis  imperialibus  mandatis,  quibus  recti- 
tudines  ecclesia?  per  cartam  Eadwardi  regis  et  attestatione 
comitatus  in  eodem  comitatu  tunc  publice  ventilata?,  ipsi 
officiales  repulsam  sibi  adversam,  ecclesia?  autem  com- 
modam,  suscepere ;  id  viriliter  domno  Athellelmo  abbate 
satagente.  Cui  plurimum  auxilii  ferebant  duo  ecclesia? 
hujus  monachi,  germani  quidem  fratres,  quorum  major 
natu  Sacolus,  junior  vero  Godricus  vocabatur,  cum  qui- 
bus et  Alfwinus  presbyter,  tuuc  ecclesiam  regia?  villa? 
Suttune  huic  viciua?  gubernans ;  quibus  tanta  secularium 
facundia  et  proeteritorum  memoria  eventorum  inerat,  ut 
ca?teri  circumquaque  facile  eorum  sententiam  ratam 
fuisse,  quam  edicerent,  approbarent.  Sed  et  alii  plures 
de  Anglis  causidici  per  id  tempus  in  abbatia  ista  habe- 
bantur  quorum  collationi  nemo  sapiens  refragabatur. 
Quibus  rem  ecelesia^  publicam  tuentibus,  ejus  oblocutores 
elinsrues  fiebant. 


32  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[The  following  writ  appears  immediately  after  the  above.] 

Willelmus,  rex  Anglorum,  vicecomitibus  suis,  ministris 
totius  Angliae,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  volo  et  prsecipio 
ut  omnia  quae  ministri  monachorum  Abbendoniae  emeut 
ad  victum  monachorum  in  civitatibus  et  burgis,  et 
omnibus  mercatis,  omnino  sint  quieta  ab  omni  theloneo 
et  consuetudine  ;  et  prohibeo  vobis,  sicut  me  diligitis, 
ne  aliquis  vestrum  amodo  illis  iude  injuriam  faciat. 
Teste  Eudone  dapifero,  apud  Buvhellam. 


[Abbot  op  St.  Edmund  v.  Abbot  of  Peterborough.]  l 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  abbot  of  Peterborough  not  to 
molest  the  abbot  of  St.  Edmund  in  carrying  away  stones  for  his 
church.] 

Willielmus  rex  Angliae  abbati  de  Burgo,  salutem. 
Mando  tibi  et  praecipio,  ut  permittas  abbatem  Sancti 
Edmundi  sufficienter  accipere  de  petra  ad  ecclesiam 
suam  sicut  hactenus  habuitj  et  non  amplius  sibi  im- 
pedimentum  facias  in  adducendis  petris  ad  aquam;  quam 
antea  fecisti.     Teste  episcopo  Dunelmensi. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Augustine's  Claim  to  a  Ship.]2 

[The  abbot  of  St.  Augustine  claims  to  have  been  disseised  of  a  ship, 
and   the   king's   son    (the  king  being  in  Normandy)  directs  an 


1  Battery's  Antiq.  St.  Edmund,  50. 

-'  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  353  (Rcc.Com.). 


WILLIAM    I.  38 

inquisition  to  ascertain  the  truth.  The  fact  found  in  favour  of 
the  abbot,  and  a  writ  issued,  followed  by  another  from  the  queen, 
ordering  reseisin  of  the  abbot.] 

Willelmus  filius  regis  Willelmo  vicecomiti  de  Kent, 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  prsecipias  Hamoni,  filio  Vitalis, 
et  probis  vicinis  de  Sandwich,  quos  Hamo  nominavit,  ut 
dicant  veritatem  de  nave  abbatis  de  Sancto  Augustine-, 
et  si  navis  ilia  perrexit  per  mare  die  qua  rex  novissime 
mare  transivit,  tunc  praecipio  ut  modo  pergat  quousque 
rex  in  Angliam  veniat,  et  interim  resaisiatur  inde  abbas 
praedictus.  Teste  episcopo  Sarum  et  cancellario,  apud 
Wodstoke. 

[Writ  of  execution  of  above  on  judgment.] ' 
Willelmus  filius  regis  Willelmo  vicecomiti  de  Kent, 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  resaisias  abbatem  de  Sancto 
Augustino  de  nave  sua,  sicut  ego  praecepi  per  meum 
aliud  breve,  et  sicut  recognitum  fuit  per  probos  homines 
comitatus,  quod  inde  abbas  erat  saisitus,  die  qua  rex 
mare  novissime  transivit;  et  in  pace  teneat.  Teste 
cancellario,  apud  Wendesore.  Et  hoc  sine  mora,  ne  inde 
clamorem  audiam  amplius.     Teste  eodem. 

[Another  like  writ  by  the  Queen.] 2 

Matilda  regina  Aussu.  dapifero,  salutem.  Praecipio 
tibi,  ut  facias  juste  reddi  navem  abbatis  de  Sancto 
Augustino,  et  omnes  suas  res  qua3  captae  fuerunt.  Et 
ponantur  per  plegios  omnes  illi  homines,  qui  earn  cepe- 
runt ;  ut  sint  ad  rectum  regi  quando  eos  habere  voluerit. 
Et  praecipio  quod  omnes  suae  res  sint  in  pace,  sicut  fue- 
runt die  qua  rex  mare  transivit,  donee  ipse  in  Angliam 
redeat.  Teste  episcopo  Saresberi^,  apud  AVcstmonas- 
terium. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  354  (Rec.  Com.).  -  lb. 

1) 


34  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  of  St.  Andrew  v.  Haimo  et  al.]1 

[Tho  king's  writ  directing  respect  for  the  customs  of  the  church  of 
St.  Andrew,  as  they  existed  in  the  time  of  Edward  the 
Confessor.] 

Willelmus  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglorum  Haimoni  dapifero 
et  omnibus  suis  teignis  in  episcopatu  Roffensi  salutem. 
Mando  et  prsecipio,  ut  eas  consuetudines,  quas  ecclesia 
Sancti  Andreoe  Rofensis  civitatis  habuit  in  terris  vestris, 
seu  in  annona,  seu  in  porcis,  vel  aliis  rebus,  tempore 
Edwardi  regis,  habeat,  et  vos  exolvatis. 


[Bishop  Gundulf  v.  Pichot,  a  Sheriff.] - 

[Bishop  Gundulf  claims  a  piece  of  land  which  Pichot,  sheriff  of 
Cambridge,  had  granted  to  O.,  as  land  of  the  king.  The  king 
having  directed  the  county  to  meet  and  try  the  cause,  judgment, 
through  intimidation  of  Pichot,  is  given  against  the  bishop.  Odo, 
who  acted  as  justiciar,  doubting  of  the  correctness  of  the 
decision,  requires  the  court  to  elect  twelve  of  their  number 
who  should  confirm  the  decision,  if  they  believed  it  true,  by 
oath.  These,  in  turn,  intimidated  by  Pichot,  give  the  confir- 
matory oath.  Afterwards  a  monk  who  had  been  steward  of 
the  premises  charges  perjury  upon  the  court,  and  the  bishop, 
fing  the  venue,  now  brings  suit  for  a  false  judgment,  and 
recovers  the  land.  Judgment,  farther,  on  ordeal  of  hot  iron, 
against  the  twelve  who  had  confirmed  the  first  decision.] 

Tempore  Willelmi  regis  Anglorum  magni,  patris  Wil- 
lelmi  regis  ejusdem  gentis,  fuit  quaedam  contentio  inter 
Gundulfum  Hrofensem  episcopum  el  Pichot  vieecomit  em 
de  Grendebruge  pro  quadam  terra  quae  era!  de  Fracenham 
et  jacebat  in  Giselham,  quam  quidam  regis  serviens 
Olchete  nomine  vicecomite  dante  prsesumpserat  occupare. 

'   1  Anglia  Sacra,  338.  -  Eb.  339j  Hickes,  Dis.  Epist.  33. 


WILLIAM    I.  35 

Hanc  enim  vicecomcs  regis  esse  terram  dicebat;  sed 
episcopus  eandem  Sancti  Andreas  potius  esse  aflirmabat. 
Quare  ante  regem  vencrunt.  Ilex  vero  praecepit,  ut  omnes 
illius  eomitatus  homines  congregarentur;  et  eorum  judieio 
cnjns  terra  deberet  rectius  probaretur.  Ill i  autem  congre- 
gati  terram  illam  regis  esse  potius  quam  beati  Andrese 
timore  vicecomitis  affirmaverunt.  Sed  cum  illis  Baio- 
censis  episcopus,  qui  placito  prseerat,  non  bene  crederet ; 
proecepit  ut  si  verum  esse  quod  dicebant  scirent,  ex 
scipsis  duodecim  eligerent,  qui  quod  omnes  dixerant 
jurejurando  confirmarent.  Illi  autem  cum  ad  consilium 
secessissent,  et  inibi  a  vicecomite  per  internuntium  con- 
territi  fuissent;  revertentes  verum  esse  quod  dixerant 
juraverunt.  Hi  autem  fuerunt  Edwardus  de  Cipenham, 
Heruldus  et  Leofuuine  saca  de  Exninge,  Eadric  de 
Giselham,  Wlfuuine  de  Landuuade,  Ordiner  de  Berlinge- 
ham,  et  alii  sex  de  melioribus  eomitatus.  Quo  facto, 
terra  in  manu  regis  remansit.  Eodem  vero  anno  mona- 
chus  quidam  Grim  nomine,  quasi  a  Domino  missus,  ad 
episcopum  venit.  Qui  cum  audiret  hoc  quod  illi  jura- 
verant; nimium  admirans,  et  eos  detestans,  omnes  esse 
perjuros  affirmavit.  Ipse  enim  monaehus  diu  propositus 
de  Frachenham  extiterat,  et  ex  eadem  terra  servitia  et 
costumas  ut  de  aliis  terris  de  Frachenham  susceperat,  et 
unum  ex  eisdem  qui  juraverant  in  eodem  manerio  sub  se 
habuerat.  Quod  postquam  episcopus  Hrofensis  audivit ; 
ad  episcopum  Baiocensem  venit,  et  monachi  verba  per 
ordinem  narravit.  Qua3  ut  episcopus  audivit,  monachum 
ad  se  venire  fecit,  et  ab  ipso  ilia  eadem  didicit.  Post 
hsec  vero  unum  ex  illis  qui  juraverant  ad  se  fecit  venire; 
qui  statim  ad  ejus  pedes  procidens,  confessus  est  se  per- 
junim  esse.  Hinc  autem  cum  ilium  qui  prius  juraverat 
ad  se  venire  fecisset;  requisitus  se  pcrjurum  esse  similiter 

d  2 


36  PLACITA   ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

eonfessus  est.  Denique  mandavit  vicecomiti,  ut  reliquos 
obviam  sibi  Londoniam  mittcret,  et  alios  duodecim  de 
melioribus  ejusdem  comitatus,  qui  quod  illi  juravcrant 
verum  esse  confirmaverant.  Illuc  quoque  fecit  venire 
multos  ex  melioribus  totius  Anglise  baronibus.  Quibus 
omnibus  Londonise  congregatis,  judieatum  est  tarn  a 
Francis  quam  ab  Anglis  illos  omnes  perjuros  esse;  quando- 
quidem  ille,  post  quem  alii  jura verant,  se  perjurum  esse 
fatebatur.  Quibus  tali  judicio  condemnatis,  episcopus 
Hrofensis  terram  suam  ut  justum  erat  habuit.  Alii  autem 
duodecim  cum  vellent  affirmare  iis  qui  juravcrant  se  non 
consensisse;  Baiocensis  episcopus  dixit,  ut  hoc  ipsum 
judicio  ferri  probarent.  Quod  quia  se  facturos  promise- 
runt,  et  facere  non  potuerunt ;  judicantibus  aliis  sui 
comitatus  hominibus,  trecentas  libras  regi  dederunt. 


[Abbot  Scotland's  Claim  to  Prebends  of  Newington.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  judgment  rendered  in  favour  of  abbot 
Scotland  concerning  eighi  prebends  in  Newington.] 

WlLLELMUS,  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglorum,  Lanfranco 
archiepiscopo,  Rudberto  et  Rogero  comitibus,  et  totius 
Angliae  optimatibus,  salutem.  Seitote  quod  reddo  Sancto 
Augustino  et  abbati  Scotlando  et  fratribus  loci,  octo 
prsebendas  in  Nywentone,  et  omnes  terras  ad  illas 
pertinentes,  liberas  et  quietas,  cum  omnibus  consuetudi- 
nibus,  sieuti  testimonium  perhibuit  comitatus  Cantiae 
coram  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo,  et  Eudone  meo  dapifero, 
ei    W'illelmo    de    Arehis   et    Radulpho   de   Curba    Spina 

1    Hist.  Mon.  Si.  A.ug.  349  (Rec.  Com.). 


WILLIAM    I.  37 

cseterisque  meis  optimatibus  illius  coraitatus.  Volo 
ergo  et  prsecipio,  ut  a  modo  fir  miter  et  honorifice  jam 
dictus  abbas  ct  locus  cas  babeat,  tencat,  possideat  in 
perpetuuni,  sicuti  antecessors  ejus  melius  teuuerunt. 
Et  ei  aliquis  sibi  aliquam  inde  fecerit  injuriam,  vos  illi 
rectum  facite.  Teste  Godcfrido  episcopo  Constantiensi 
apud  Rotomagum.     Valete. 


DOOMSDAY    INQUISITIONS. 

[Customs  of  Foreign  Merchants.] 

Quid  am  propositus  Brumannus  nomine  tempore  regis 
Edwardi  cepit  consuetudines  de  extraneis  mercatoribus 
in  terra  Sancti  Kinitatis  et  Sancti  Augustini.  Qui 
postea  tempore  regis  Willelmi  ante  archiepiscoj)um. 
Lanfrancum  et  episcopum  Baiocensem  recognovit  se 
injuste  accepisse,  et  sacramento  facto  juravit  quod  ipsa? 
aecclesise  suas  consuetudines  quietas  babuerunt  regis 
Edwardi  tempore.  Et  exinde  utreque  secclesiae  in  sua 
terra  babuerunt  consuetudines  suas,  judicio  baronum 
regis  qui  placitum  tenuerunt.1 


[Church  and  Aqueduct  at  Southwark.     The  King's 
Writ  and  Seal.] 

Ipse    episcopus     [Odo]     babet   in    Sudwerche  unum 
monasterium  et  unum   aque  fluctum.     Rex   Edwardus 
tenebat  die  qua  mortuus  fuit.     Qui  secclesiam  babebat, 
1   1  Doomsdny,  2.     Doomsday  was  completed  in  1086. 


38  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

de  rege  tenebat .  De  exitu  aqucc  ubi  naves  applicabant,  rex 
babe-bat  II.  partes,  God  win  us  comes  terciam.  Testantur 
vero  homines  de  hundredo  Franci  et  Angli,  quod  episcopus 
Baiocensis  [Odo]  cum Rannulfo vicecomite de  hisplacitum 
inierit,  sed  ille  intelligens  placitum  non  duci  per  rectitu- 
dinem  ad  proficuum  regis,  placitum  deferuit.  Episcopus 
autem  dedit  aecclesiam  et  fluctum  primum  Adeloldo, 
deinde  Badulfo  pro  excambio  unius  domus.  Vicecomes 
quoque  negat  se  preceptum  vel  sigillum  regis  de  hac  re 
unquam  percepisse.  Homines  de  Suduuerca  testantur 
quod  tempore  regis  Edwardi  nullus  capiebat  theloneum 
in  strande  vel  in  vico  aqua?,  nisi  rex.  Et  siquis  foris- 
faciens  ibi  calumpniatur  fuisset,  regi  emendabat.  Si 
vero  non  calumpniatus  abisset  sub  eo  qui  sacam  et  socam 
habuisset,  ille  emendationem  habet.1 


[Lands  of  Hugh  de  Port.     Proof  by  Oath  or 
Ordeal  offered.] 

Islam  terrain  calumniatur  Willelmus  de  Chernet, 
dicens  pertinere  ad  manerium  do  Ceredeford  feudum 
Hugonis  de  Port,  per  hereditatem  sui  antecessoris,  et  de 
hoc  suum  testimonium  adduxit  de  melioribus  et  antiquis 
hominibus  totius  comitatus  et  hundred]',  et  Picot  contra- 
duxit  suum  testimonium  de  villanis  et  vili  plebe  et  de 
prsepositis,  qui  volunt  defendere  per  sacramentum  aut 
per  Dei  judicium,  quod  ille  qui  tenuit  terrain  liber  homo 
fuit et  potuit  ire  cum  terra  sua  quo  voluit.  Sed  testes 
\\  illelmi  nolunl  accipere  legem  nisi  regis  Edwardi  usque 
dum  diffiniatui  perregem.2 

1  1  Doomsday,  32.  -   Il>.  I  II, 


william  i.  39 

[The    Manor   of   Spersold.      The    King's   Writ 
and  Seal.] 

Dc  hoc  manerio  [Spcrsold]  scira  attestatur  quod 
Edricus  qui  euro  tenebat  deliberavit  ilium  (ilio  suo  qui 
erat  in  Abendone  monachus,  ut  ad  firmam  illud  teneret, 
et  sibi  donee  viveret  necessaria  vitaj  inde  donaret,  post 
mortem  vero  ejus  manerium  haberet.  Et  ideo  nesciunt 
homines  de  scira  quid  abbatise  pertineat.  Neque  enim 
inde  viderunt  bvevem  regis  et  sigillum.  Abbas  vero 
testatur  quod  in  tempore  regis  Edwardi  misit  ille 
manerium  ad  Eecclesiam  unde  erat,  et  inde  habet  brevem 
et  sigillum  regis  Edwardi  attestantibus  omnibus  mo- 
nachis  suis.1 


[Berkley  given  by  a  Nuncupative  Will.] 

Hoc  manerium  [Berchelai]  isdem  Wluuinus  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  de  episcopo  Cestrensi  ad  a3tatem  trium 
hominum.  Qui  cum  infirmatus  ad  finem  vitse  venisset, 
vocato  Alio  suo  episcopo  Li.  et  uxore  sua  et  pluribus 
amicis  suis,  dixit.  Audite  vos  amici  mei.  Hanc  terrain 
quam  ab  aecclesia  emi,  volo  ut  teneat  uxor  mea  dum 
vixerit,  et  post  mortem  ejus,  recipiat  secclesia  de 
qua  accepi,  et  qui  inde  abstulerit,  excommunicatus  sit. 
Hoc  ita  fuisse  testificantur  meliores  homines  totius 
comitatus.2 

'•  1  Doomsday,  59.  2  lb.  177. 


40  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Land  claimed  by  the  Church  at  Ely.] 

Goscelinus  Loremarius  habet  terrain  unius  et  non 
reddit  consuetudinem,  scilicet  I.  liidam  quam  calumpni- 
antur  monachi  Sanctse  Adeldrede,  de  Eli,  ct  hundret 
testatur  eis  de  dimidia   parte   ct   de   alia  parte  nichil 

sciunt.1 


[Land  of  Earl  Ralph.     Proof  by  Ordeal  offered.] 

In  Brecles,  quarta  pars  unius  acrce,  et  quedam 
consuetudo  in  pastura  hoe  jacuit  in  Saham  in  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  et  modo  similiter,  sed  Godricus  earn  revocat 
ad  se  [fe]udum  comitis  Radulfi  in  Stou,  dieens  quod 
ipse  earn  tenuerit  duobus  annis  antequam  forisfaceret,  et 
duobus  annis  postea,  ex  hoc  offert  quidam  famulus  regis 
de  Stou  portarc  juditium.2 


[Lands  of  Earl  Ralph.     Proof  by  Ordeal  offered.] 

In  Britringa  VII.  acrae  silva)  et  I.  acra  terra1,  in  qua 
sunt  IIII.  bordarii.  Hoc  revocat  Godric  ad  feudum 
Radulfi  comitis,  et  quedam  femina  que  hoc  tenuit 
tempore  reg  is  Edwardi  vult  ferre  judicium  quod  dissolutus 
est  a  vadimonio.     Hoc  tenet  Siuuardus  in  vadimonio.3 

'  2  Doomsday,  2.  »  lb.  110  b.  3  lb.  137. 


william  i.  41 

[Lands  of  Earl  Alan.    Proof  by  Ordeal  or  Battle 

OFFERED.] 

Iii  Matelesc  ubi  comes  Alanus  tenet  calumpniatur 
I.  homo  regis  XVI.  acras  terrse  offerendo  juditium  vel 
bellum  contra  liundredum,  quod  testatur  eos  comiti,  sod 
quidam  homo  comitis  vult  probare  quod  hundredum 
verum  testatur,  vel  juditio  vel  bello.1 


[Lands  of  Earl  Ralph.      Proof  by  Ordeal  offered.] 

Hanc  [recelesiam  vel  terram]  calumpniatur  Godric  ad 
feudum  Radulfi  quod  jacuit  in  Stohu,  et  hide  vult  unus 
homo  Godric  portare  juditium.2 


[Church  and  Land  in  Greston.     Proof  by  Ordeal 
offered.] 

In  Grestuna,  I.  secclesia,  et  X.  acra?  terrse  hoc  calump- 
niatur Godric  jacere  tempore  Radulfi  comitis  in  Stou,  et 
homines  de  hundredo  earn  testantur  ad  feudum  Willelmi 
de  Warena  et  quidam  regis  homo  vult  ferre  judicium 
quod  jacuit  in  Stou,  quando  forisfecit  se  Radulfus  et 
uno  anno  prius,  et  uno  anno  postea.3 


[Lands  of  William  of  Warren.     Livery  of  Seisin.] 
Hundret  de  Droscros.     Helgatuna   tenet   Willelmus 

1  2  Doomsday,  1  LG  b.  -  lb.  162.  •''  lb.  1G6. 


42  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

de  Warena,  de  feudo  Frederick  I.  liber  homo,  ideo 
quod  antecessor  ejus  ita  tenuit,  quod  non  posset  recedere 
a  terra  nisi  licencia  illius,  et  hundret  hoc  testatur,  et 
quidam  homo,  Drogonis,  de  Bevraria  Franco  nomine 
calumpniatur  illam  ad  feudum  domini  sui,  de  dono  regis, 
de  liberatione,  dicens  quod  antecessor  ejus  tenuerit, 
Heinfridus,  scilicet  tempore  Frederici  et  post  eurn  tenuit 
Drogo  et  hundret  testatur  hoc  quod  ipsi  tenucrunt 
sed  hundret  non  videt  in  brevem  nee  liberatorem.1 


[Lands  of  William  of  Warren.     Proof  by  Ordeal 

OFFERED.] 

Hundret  Gilhou.  In  Norbursam  quod  tenet  Willelmus 
de  Warena,  tenet2  Heraldus  II.  liberos  homines  de 
I.  carucata  terra?  pertinentes  ad  Saganaham  et  modo 
tenet  Willelmus  set  homines  sui  nesciunt  quomodo,  et 
hundret  testatur  eos,  Willelmo  quod  ex  eis  est  saisitus. 
Sed  homo  regis  offert  judicium  quod  pertinebant  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  ad  Saganaham.     Manu  regis.3 


[Lands  of  Fare  Ralph.     Proof  by  Ordeal  or  Battle 

OFFERED.] 

Ilanc  terrain  [in  Biskele]  calumpniatur  Godricus 
dajiiler,  per  hominem  suum  juditio  vel  bello,  Radulfus 
scilicet,  quod  tenuit  ad   feudum   comitis  R.  et  hundret 

1  \L  Doom    '  -      !  7_  Mnii  ?         -   2  Doomsday,  17-  b. 


WILLIAM    T.  43 

testator  ad  nudum  Rogeri  Bigot.  Scd  Godricus  reclamat 
istam  cum  medietate  quao  est  in  breve  regis.  Hanc 
recepit  Godricus  pro  dimidia  carucata  terrse.1 


[Lands  of  Earl  Alan.     Proof  by  Ordeal  offered.] 

Dimidium  unura  ex  his  [in  Stratuna]  calumpniatur 
quidem2  homo  comitis  Alani,  et  dicens  quod  R.  cum 
tenuit  priusquam  forisfaceret.     Ex  hoc  offert  judicium.3 


[Land  in  Photestorp.     Proof  by  Battle  or  Ordeal 

OFFERED.] 

Hanc  terrain  [in  Photestorp]  calumpniatur  esse  liberam 
Ulchetel  homo  Hermeri,  quoque  modo  judicetur,  vel 
bello  vel  juditio,  et  alius  est  prsesto  probare  eo  modo 
quod  jacuit  ad  ecclesiam  die  qua  rex  Edwardus  obiit. 
Sed  totus  hundret  testatur  earn  fuissse4  tempore  regis 
Edwardi  ad  Sanctam  Adeloldam.5 


[Status  of  a  certain  Freeman.     Proof  by  Ordeal 

OFFERED.] 

In  Evelincham  tenet  Stanuinus  liber  homo  commen- 
datus  Heroldo  tempore  regis  Edwardi  sicut  hundret 
testatur,  set  ipse  solus  offert  juditium,  dicens  se  fuisse 
hominem  Edrici  antecessoris  Rogeri  Malet.6 

1  2  Doomsday,  176.  -  quidaui.  3  2  Doomsday,  193. 

1  fuisse.  •'  2  Doomsday,  213.  c  lb.  332. 


44  PLACITA    AXGI.O-XOll.MAXNICA. 

[Status  of  certain  Fbeemen.     Proof   "omni  lege."] 

In  eadem  [terra]  XVII.  liberi  homines  sunt  additi 
huic  manerio  [Staham]  tempore  regis  Willelmi,  de  quibus 
nichil  habuit  antecessor  Rogeri  Bigot.  Istos  liberos 
homines  calumpniatur  Rogerus  de  Kamis  tenuisse  ad 
suum  feudum  antequam  Rogerus  Bigot  terram  recepisset 
in  Sudfolc,  sed  hundret  testatur  quod  Rogerus  Bigot  eos 
recepisset  prius  ad  suum  feudum,  et  hoc  contradicit 
Rofferus  de  Ramis  omni  letre.1 


[Land  in  IIamingeston.     Piioop  "  omnibus  legibus."] 

Totam  terram  Wicolfi  [V.  acrae  in  Hamingestuna],  et 
hos  omnes  liberos  homines  quod  tenet  Warengus  de 
Rogero  Bigot,  calumpniatur  Rogerus  de  Raimis,  et  dicit 
quod  sibi  liberatum  fuit  priusquam  Rogero  Bigot,  et 
hundret  neseit  ex  hoc  verum  dicere,  quia  ille  Garengerus 
de  utroque  tenebat,  sed  tamen  ille  Warcngerus  revocat 
ad  feudum  Rogeri  Bigot,  et  Rogerus  de  Ramis  hoc 
contradicit  omnibus  legibus.2 


[Forfeited  Lands.] 

Ex  hoc  presbytero  [Suarino]  crat  saisitus  Galterus 
Dedol  quando  forisfecit  suam  terram,  et  comes  Hugo 
postea  sicut  hundret  testatur.  Et  Normannus  dicit 
quod  rex  misit  ei  uniuii  brevem  ut  Baisiret  Radulfum   do 

«  2  Doomsday,  337  b.  'lb.  338. 


WILLIAM    I.  45 

Savigni  ex  omnibus  liberis  hominibua  exquibus  Hubcrtus 
do  Porta  saisierat  episcopum  et  idco  Normannus  saisivit 
Radulf'um  ex  hoc  presbytero  set  tamen  neseit  si  Ubertus 
prius  saisierat  episcopum  de  illo,  et  hoc  invenerunt 
barones  regis  in  pace  inter  Rogerum  Bigot  et  Hugonem 
comitcm  quando  venerunt  in  comitatum  et  ita  erit  in 
pace  donee  sit  derationatus.1 


[Land  held  by  a  certain  Freeman.] 

In  Wimundestima,  VI.  liberi  homines,  de  sexto  qui 
vocatur  Bricterus,  neseit  hundret  si  potuit  terram  suam 
vendere  vel  non  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  sed  testatur 
quod  viderunt  eum  jurare  quod  non  poterant  dare 
vendere  terram  suam  ab  antecessore  Ricardi.2 


[Land  in  Groton.] 

Hanc  [terram  in  Grotena]  invasit  Rogerus  de  Orbec  et 
tenet  sub  Ricardo  filio  Gisleberto,  et  homines  Ricardi 
revocant  ad  feudum  Wisgari  antecessoris  sui.  Sed  sicut 
hundret  testatur  nunquam  pertinuitj  nee  commendatio 
nee  soca.3 


[Lands  claimed  by  the  Bishop   oe   Bayeux   against 
the  Mother  of  Robert  Malet.] 

De  calumpniis  inter  episcopum  Baiocensem  et  matrem 

1  2  Doomsday,  377.  2  lb.  397  b.  8  lb.  447  b. 


lli  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Robertus  Malet.  Hertesmera  hundret.  In  Acolt,  XX. 
acras  tenet  Brictere  liber  homo  Stigandi,  semper  I.  bor- 
darius  et  valet  XL.  d.  Hanc  terram  dedit  Stigandus 
matri  Roberti  Malet,  et  ipsa  earn  postea  tenuit  de 
rogina,  modo  episcopo.  In  eadem  Chericus  liber  homo 
dimidium  subcommendatus  antecessori  Roberti  Malet,  et 
dimidium  commendatus  Saxo  antecessori RadulfiPiperelli, 
XX.  acras  etll.  bordarios  et  I.  carucatam  et  valet  XL.  d. 
Biscopes  hundret.  In  Badingefelda  tenent  Brictere 
et  Chericus  supradicti  XL.  acras  supradieto  modo.  Tunc 
I.  carucata,  modo  dimidium.  Silva,  XL.  porcis  et  I. 
liber  homo  commendatus  Brictredo,  V.  acra>  totum  valet 
XL.  solidi.  Hertesmera  hundret.  In  Aspala,  Till,  liberi 
homines  de  Rulfo  commendati  abbati  de  Eli,  et  Tui-sta- 
nus  commendatus  Saxa,1  et  Marculfus  commendatus 
Edrici  antecessori  Roberti  Malet,  et  Grunulfus  subcom- 
mendatus antecessori  Roberti  Malet,  LXXXVI.  acrse  et 
VII.  bordarii.  Semper  III.  carucata?  II.  acrse  prati. 
Semper  valuit  XL.  solidi.  Ex  hac  terra  fuit  Willelmus 
Malet  saisitus,  sic  hundret  testatur  antequam  episcopus 
Baiocensis  ;  et  postea  venit  Hubertus  de  Portu,  et  dera- 
cionavit  liberam  terram  et  saisivit  cpiscopum  ex  hac  terra 
quod  liberi  homines  earn  tenebant,  et  die  qua  Radulfus 
comes  forisfecit  mater  Roberti  inde  saisita  erat  teste 
hundret,  et  usque  ad  placitum  de  Ilodiham,  modo  est  in 
pace  regis,  sicut  rex  praiccpit  iterum  episcopum  et  mat  rem 
Roberti.3 

i  gaxo  ?  •'  -  Doomsday,  150. 


WILLIAM    I.  17 

CLAMORES  DE  EURUICSCIRE.1 

[Earl  Hugh  v.  William  de  Percy.] 

In  Nort  Reding".  In  Langeberge  wapentac  calump- 
niatuT  Hugo  comes  super  Willelmum  de  Perci  I.  caru- 
catam  terra1,  in  Figelingae,  dicens  earn  pertinere  ad 
A\  itebi.     Sed  testimonium  non  liabet. 


[Ralph  Pagenel  v.  Church  of  St.  Peter  of  York.] 

In  Maneshou  wapentac  calumpniatur  Radulfus  Pagene- 
lus  VI.  bovatas  terre  in  Stainegrif,  de  terra  Ulf,  sed 
homines  qui  juraverunt  dicunt,  esse  Saneti  Petri  Ebora- 
censis. 


[Laxds  of  William  Malet.] 

iEsreding.  Terram  Norman  filii  Ulf  in  Brentingham 
quam  liabet  Nigel  Fossard,  dicunt  homines  qui  jurave- 
runt quod  Willelmus  Malet  habuit  in  dominio.  Similiter 
dicunt  de  terra  Ulf  diaconi,  quam  habuit  in  Cave. 
Nigel  habet  cam,  sed  Willelmus  Mulct  habuit. 


[Land  claimed  by  Ralph  Mortimer.] 

Tres  bovatas  terre  et  dimidiam  quas  clamat  Radulfus 
de  Mortemer  in  Lont,  testimonium  hominum  qui  jura- 
verunt fuere  Aluuini  antecessoris  Gisleberti  Tison,  non 
Eddivse  cujus  terram  habet  Radulfus  de  Mortemer. 

1  1  Doomsday,  373,  37 J. 


48  placita  angl0-n0rmann1ca. 

[Land  of  Asa.] 

[Solo  and  separate  estate  of  a  married  woman.] 

De  omni  terra  Asse  testantur  quod  Robert i  Malet 
debeat  esse,  eo  quod  ipsa  habuit  terram  suam  separatam 
et  liberara  a  dominatu  et  potestate  Bernulfi  mariti  sui, 
etiam  cum  siraul  essent  ita  ut  ipse  de  ea  nee  donationem 
nee  venditionera  facere,  nee  forisfacere  posset.  Post 
eorum  vero  separationem,  ipsa  cum  omni  terra  sua  reces- 
sit,  et  earn  ut  domina  possedit.  Homines  autem  de  comi- 
tatu  tam  de  ilia  quam  de  tota  terra  ejus  Willelmum 
Malet  saisitum  viderunt,  donee  invasum  est  castellum. 
Hoc  attestantur  de  omni  terra  Asa)  quam  habuit  in 
Euruiescire. 


[Gilbert  Tison  v.  Bishop  of  Durham.] 

Socam   quam   clamat   Gislebertus  Tison   in   Birland, 
dicunt  esse  debere  episcopi  Dunelmensis  in  Houedon. 


[Bishop  of  Durham  v.  Hobert  Malet.] 

Quattuordecim  bovatas  terrse  quas  clamal  (piscopus 
Dunelmensis  super  Robertum  Malet  iii  Bellebij  dicunt 
f'uisse  Mule  et  Egbrand  et  Basin  et  Orm,  cum  saca  el 
soca,  et  banc  terrain  habuit  Wilelmus  Malet. 


WILLIAM    1.  49 

[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

De  VII.  carucatis  terrae  in  Nort  Dufelt  quas  habet 
Nigel,  dicunt  fuisse  saisitum  Willelmum  Malet,  et 
habuisse  terram  et  servitium  donee  fractum  est  cas- 
tellum. 


[The  King  v.  Nigel.] 

Duas  carucatas  quas  habet  Nigel  in  Sud  Dufelt, 
dicunt  pertinere  regis  domiuio  in  Poclinton.  Reliquas 
vero  VI.  carucatas  ibidem  habuit  Willelmus  Malet 
quamdiu  tenuit  castellum  de  Euruic,  et  homines  ser- 
vitium reddebant  ei. 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Tres  carucatas  terre  in  Cliue,  et  tres  carucatae  in 
Ansgotebi,  Nigel  eas  tenet,  sed  dicunt  qui  juraverunt 
quia  Willelmus  Malet  habuit  hanc  terram  in  dominio, 
quamdiu  in  Euruicscire  terram  tenuit  [esse  Willelmi] . 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Totam  terram  Norman  filii  Malcolumbe  quam  habuit 
in  Estreding,  testatur  omnis  comitatus  Willelmum 
Malet  tenuisse  in  suo  dominio,  quamdiu  in  Euruicscire 
terram  tenuit. 

E 


50  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Bishop  of  Durham  v.  Canons  of  Beureli.] 

Socam  quam  clamat  episcopus  Dunelmensis  de  V. 
carucatis  terre  et  II.  bovatis,  dicunt  vei'e  jaeuisse  in 
Welletone,  sed  canonici  de  Beureli  clamant  de  ea  donum 
regis  Willelmi  et  confirmationem.  Similiter  de  soca 
unius  carucatse  terrse  in  Neutone,  quam  clamat  epis- 
copus Dunelmensis  ad  Welletone,  dicunt  quia  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  sic  fuerit,  sed  clerici  eodem  modo  clamant 
de  resre. 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Totam  villam  Scornesbi  (est  VI.  carucatse  terre)  tes- 
tantur  fuisse  Willelmi  Malet,  et  in  dominio  earn  posse- 
disse.  Similiter,  XIIII.  bovatas  terroa  in  Lanulfestorp, 
et  in  Domniton  terrain  Norman  et  Alden,  testantur 
Willelmi  Malet  fuisse  et  eas  in  dominio  tenuisse. 


[William  de  Percy  v.  Nigel.] 
De  terra  Sonulfi  in  Grimeston  quam  Nigel   tenet  et 
Willelmus  de  Perci  clamat,  nesciunt  quis  eorum  habere 
debeal . 


[Archbishop  of  York  v.  Gilbert  Tison.] 

Sex  bovatas  terra)  in  Rudetorp  quas  clamat  archiepis- 
copus  testantur  Gisleberti  Tison  esse  debere. 


WILLIAM    1.  51 


[Robert  Malet  v.  William  de  Percy.] 

Sex  carucatas  terre  Ulchil  in  Aluuintone,  quas  habet 
Willelmus  de  Perci,  testantur  ad  opus  Roberti  Malet, 
quia  pater  suus  habuit,  sicut  superiores  terras. 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Terrain  IIII.  carucatas  in  Coldrid  quam  tenet  Willel- 
mus de  Perci  de  qua  pertinet  soca  in  Cliftune,  testantur 
qui  juraverunt  non  solum  illas  IIII.  carucatas,  sed  etiam 
totam  villain  Coldrid  Willelmum  Malet  in  dominio  tenu- 
isse  et  de  ea  saisitum  fuisse. 


[Richard  de  Surdeval  v.  The  King.] 

In  Logetorp  clamat  Ricardus  de  Surdeual  terram 
Norman  et  Asoe,  sed  dicunt  qui  juraverunt  regis  esse 
debere. 


[The  King  v.  Odo.] 

In  Scarpinberg  et  Scardiztorp  babet  Odo  balistarius 
terram  Orm  et  Bunde,  sed  horum  qui  juraverunt  testimo- 
nium regis  debet  esse. 

e  2 


52  placita  anglo-norm  annica. 

[Lands  in  Risby.] 

In  Risbi  habuit  Gamel  1III.  carucatas  terre  quas 
vendidit  iEldredo  archiepiscopo,  tempore  regis  Willelmi. 
De  hac  terra  jacuit  olim  soca  in  Welleton,  sed  Thomas 
archiepiscopus  habuit  brevem  regis  Willelmi,  per  quem 
concessit  ipsam  socam  quietam  Sancto  Johanni  de  Beureli. 
Similiter  de  IIII.  carucatis  terre  in  Walchmton  per- 
tinebat  soca  ad  Welleton,  sed  rex  Willelmus  donavit 
earn  quietam  Eldredo  archiepiscopo,  testante  wapentac 
qui  brevem  regis  inde  vidit  et  audivit. 


[Land  at  Tornoure.] 

In  Wesreding.  Homines  de  Barcheston  wapentac  et 
de  Siraehes  wapentac  pcrhibent  Osberno  de  Arcis  testi- 
monium, quod  Gulbertus  antecessor  ejus  habuit  omnem 
Tornoure,  nesciunt  cujus  dono.  Id  est  IIII.  maneria 
VIII.  carucatas  terrse.  Sed  omnis  Tornoure  sedet  infra 
metam  castelli  Huberti,  secundum  primam  mensuram  et 
secundum  vovissimam  mensuram  sedet  extra. 


[Roger  de  Busli  v.  William  de  Warenna.] 

Homines  de  Strafordes  wapentac  testificantur  ad  opus 
Willelmi  de  Warenna,  II.  carucatas  de  terra  Siuuardi  in 
Cliftune,  quam  clamabat  Rogerus  de  Busli. 


william  i.  53 

[Lands  of  Nigel  Fossard.] 

Dicunt  quod  Nigellus  Fossard  debet  habere  in  San- 
dale  VII.  bovatas  terre  de  terra  Aluuini,  unde  soca  per- 
tinet  ad  Coningsburg,  et  in  eadem  villa  I.  a>cclesiam,  de 
qua  jacet  soca  in  Coningesburg. 


[Lands  of  Norman.] 

Duo  marescalli  saisierunt  terram  Normanni,  et  tenu- 
erunt.  Nesciunt  homines  de  wapentac  quonam  mode 
nee  ad  cujus  opus.     Sed  viderunt  eos  tenentes. 


[Ernwin  v.  Osbern   de  Arcis.] 

In  Scachertorp  et  in  duabus  Popletunis,  VI.  carucatse 
terrse  et  dimidia  de  terra  Ernuin  Catenase,  quam 
tenet  Osbernus  de  Arcis,  testantur  ad  opus  Malet,  et 
dicunt  quod  Ernuin  presbyter  debet  habere  de  Roberto 
Malet.  Ita  testificantur,  quod  Willelmum  Malet  vide- 
runt saisitum  et  tenentem,  et  homines  de  terra  servi- 
tium  sibi  fecerunt,  et  homines  ejus  fuerunt,  sed  nesciunt 
quomodo  habuit. 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Willelmus  de  Perci  advocat  pares  suos  in  testimonium, 
quod  vivente  Willelmo  Malet  et  vicecomitatum  tenente 
in  Euruic,  fuit  ipse  saisitus  de  Bodetone  et  earn  tenuit. 


54  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORM ANNICA. 

[Drooo  v.  Church  of  St.  John  of  York.] 

Omnera  terrain  quam  calumpniabatur  Drogo  super 
Sanctum  Johannem  testificata  est  ad  opus  ipsius  Sancti 
Johannis  per  homines  de  treding  et  per  donum  regis 
Willelmi  quod  dedit  Sancto  Johanni  tempore  iEldredi 
archiepiscopi.  De  hoc  habent  canonici  sigillum  regis 
Edwardi  et  regis  Willelmi. 


[Lands  of  William  Malet.] 

Homines  de  Heldernesse  qui  juraverunt  testificati  sunt 
ad  opus  Willelmi  Malet  terras  has  infra  notatas,  ita 
quod  viderunt  eas  saisire  in  manu  ejusdem  Willelmi,  et 
viderunt  eum  hahentem  et  tenentem,  usque  Dani  ce- 
perunt  ilium,  sed  de  hoc  breve  regis  vel  sigillum  non 
viderunt.  [Then  follows  a  designation  of  lands  in 
eighteen  manors.] 


CLAMORES  QU^E  FUERUNT  IN  SUDTREDING 
LINCOLN,  ET  CONCORDIA  EORUM  PER 
HOMINES  QUI  JURAVERUNT.1 

[Men  of  Bishop  Odo  v.  Robert,  the  Dispenser.] 

In  Tadeuuelle  hundred  clamant  homines  episcopi  Baio- 
eensisl.  carucatam  terre  super  Robertum  dispensatorem, 

1  1  Doomsday,  375 — 377  b. 


W 1 1, LI  AM    I.  55 

et  homines  de  wapentac  dicunt  quod  ipse  episcopus  jure 
debet  habere.  In  eodem  hundred  clamant  homines  ejus- 
dem  episcopi  super  Ilugonem  comitem  III.  bovatas 
terrae,  et  wapentac  dicit  quod  ipse  episcopus  debet  habere. 
In  eodem  hundred  molendinum  quod  fuit  Agemund,  et 
post  eura  habuerunt  Lanbertus  et  Gozelinus  filius  ejus, 
dicit  wapentac  quod  Robertus  dispensator  debet  habere 
cum  terra  sua.  In  Lude  hundred  clamat  episcopus 
Lincolie,  I.  molendinum  super  Alanum  comitem,  et 
wapentac  testatur  ejusdem  episcopi  esse  debere. 


[Losward  v.  Gilbert  he  Gand.] 

In  Richesbi  hundred  clamat  Losuardus  super  Gisle- 
bertum  de  Gand  in  Welle,  I.  carucatam  terre.  Homines 
de  treding  dicunt  quod  tempore  regis  Edwardi  habuit 
Turolf  cum  saca  et  soca,  et  post  eum  habuit  Tonna,  et 
ista  terra  fuit  deliberata  episcopo  Odoni  per  cartarn,  sed 
noil  viderunt  inde  brevem  regis/ et  ipse  habebat  ea  die 
qua  fuit  captus,  et  postea  dissaisitus. 


[Rayner  de  Brimon  v.  Earl  Hugh.] 

In  eodem  hundred  clamat  Raynerus  de  Brimou  super 
Hugonem  comitem  in  Ulesbi,  II.  bovatas  terra),  et 
homines  de  treding  dicunt  quod  non  debet  habere  nisi 
socam  in  Combreuorde,  et  comes  terrain. 


56  placita  axglo-normannica. 

[Bishop  of  Durham  v.  Gilbert  de  Gand.] 

In  Wilgebi  hundred  clamat  episcopus  Dunelraensis 
super  Gislebertum  de  Gand  terrain  Alnot  presbyteri,  et 
dicunt  homines  de  treding  quod  nunquam  viderunt  ante- 
cessorem  episcopi  fuisse  saisitum  neque  per  brevem  neque 
per  legatum,  et  testantur  ad  opus  Gisleberti. 


[Bishop  of  Durham  and  Eudo.] 

De  ealumpnia  inter  episeopum  Dunelmensem  et 
Eudonem  filium  Spireuuic,  portaverunt  testimonium 
homines  de  Hornecastre  wapentac  annuente  toto  treding, 
quod  III.  fratres  Herold  et  Godeuert  et  Aluric  di- 
viserunt  dominicam  terram  patris  sui  Bequaliter  et 
pariliter,  et  solummodo  Herold  et  Godeuert  diviserunt 
socam  patris  sui  sine  tercio  fratre,  et  equaliter  et  pariliter 
tenuerunt  earn  tempore  regis  Edwardi. 


[Same  Parties.] 

De  soca  VI.  bovatarum  unde  est  ealumpnia  inter  epis- 
eopum et  Eudonem  in  Langetone  et  in  torp,  dicunt 
homines  de  Waragehou  wapentac  quod  praedicti  duo 
fratres  equaliter  ei  pariliter  habuerunt  socam  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  sed  eo  anno  quo  isdem  rex  mortuus  est 
filii  Godeuert  habebant  socam  totam,  sed  nesciunt  qua 
ratione  cam  habebant,  utrum  vi,  vcl  dono  patrui  sui. 


william  i.  57 

[Robert,  the  Dispenser,  v.  Gilbert  de  Gant.] 

De  calumpnia  quam  Robertus  dispensator  facit  super 
Gislebertum  de  Gant  de  silva  qua?  est  in  Langetone, 
dicit  Waragehou  wapentac  quod  Tonna  habebat  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  cum  saca  et  soca  in  Badeburg,  et  ideo  jure 
habet  Gislebertus  de  Gand,  annuente  toto  treding. 


[Robert,  the  Dispenser,  v.  The  King.] 

De  silva  minuta  quam  clamat  Robertus  dispensator 
super  regem  in  Gaintone,  et  super  Ernegis  de  Burun  in 
Waragebi,  nihil  ibi  liabet  testimonium  wapentac.  Sed 
super  XII.  acras  comitis  Hugonis,  et  super  VIII.  acras 
episcopi  Baiocensis,  habet  socam  per  testimonium  homi- 
num  wapentac  et  treding. 


[Archbishop  Thomas  v.  Ivo  Tailbois.] 

De  calumpnia  quam  archiepiscopus  Thomas  faciebat, 
hoc  est  quod  debebat  habere  socam  super  terram  Siuuard 
antecessoris  Ivonis  Tallebosc,  dicit  wapentac  et  treding 
quod  Siuuard  tarn  bene  tenuit  terram  suam  cum  saca  et 
soca,  sicut  Goduinus  antecessor  archiepiscopi,  et  ideo  non 
recte  clamat. 


[Archbishop  Thomas  v.  Bishop  Odo.] 
Archiepiscopus    Thomas    debet    habere    socam    super 


58  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

terram  Aschil  quam  habet  episcopus  Baiocensis  in 
Ulingeham,  quia  sicut  testatur  totus  comitatus,  ante- 
cessor archiepiscopi  habuit  sacam  et  socam  super  eandem 
terrain,  et  homines  episeopi  injuste  auferunt  eitlem 
arcbiepiscopo  eandem  socam. 


[Lands  of  Archbishop  Thomas.] 

Tempore  regis  Edwardi  fuit  saisitus  Almcer  antecessor 
arehiepiscopi  Thomae  desoca  X.  bovatarnm  in  Ulingebam. 
Htec  terra  fuit  Code,  et  modo  est  Rayneri  do  Brimou,  et 
pro  III.  libris  fuit  invadiata,  tempore  regis  Edwardi  et 
modo  affirmant  homines  de  treding,  quod  archiepiscopus 
jure  debet  habere  banc  socam,  quousque  ei  reddantur 
III.  libri. 

[Robert,  the  Dispenser,  v.  Gilbert  de  Gant.] 

De  II.  carucatis  terra)  quas  calumpniat  Robertus  dis- 
pensator  super  Gislebertum  de  Gant  in  Screnbi  per 
'Wiglac  antecessorem  suum,  elicit  wapentac  non  cum 
habuisse  nisi  I.carucatam,  et  soca  de  ipsa  crat  in  Bardenai. 
AViglac  autem  forisfecit  cam  terram  contra  dominum 
suum  Gislebertum  et  ideo  Robertus  nil  habet  ibi  testi- 
monio  treding. 


CLAMORES  IN  XORTREDING. 

[Ivo  Tailbois  v.  The  King.] 
In   Limberge  clamai    [vo  Tallebosc  super  regem  VI. 
bovatas    terre.     Dicunt    homines   comitatus   quod   ipse 
debet  habere  terram,  el  rex  socam. 


WILLIAM    1. 


50 


[Toll.] 
Homines  Radulfi  de  Mortemer  et  homines  Losoardi 
accipiunt  novum  thcloneum  in  Grimesbi,  quod  non  fuit 
tempore  regis  Edwardi  sed  Losoardus  negat  suos  homines 
fecisse  per  eum. 

CLAMORES  IN  CHETSTEVEN. 

[Robert  de  Todeni  v.  Judith.] 

In  Pamptune  tenet  Judita  comitissa  II.  maneria  quae 
fuerunt  iElmeri  et  fratrum  ejus.  Robertus  de  Todeni 
calumpniatur,  et  wapentac  portat  ei  testimonium  quod 
deliberata  sunt  ei  in  escangio  pro  Morestune. 

[Gilbert  de  Gand  v.  Robert  de  Veci.] 

In  Catorp  hundred  clamat  Gislebertus  de  Gand 
super  Robertum  de  Veci  pratum  quod  fuit  Eilric  ante- 
cessoris  sui,  sed  wapentac  dicit  quod  isdem  iElric  totum 
pratum  habuit,  nee  antecessor  Gisleberti  inde  aliquid 
habuitj  nisi  per  locationem  mercedis. 

[Claims  of  Drogo  de  Beurere.] 
Clamores    quos  Drogo   de  Beurere  facit  super  terras 
Morcarij  dimittunt  in  judicio  regis. 

[Claim  of  Walter  de  Aincurt.] 
Walterus  de    Aincurt    clamat    servitium    hominum 
Widonis  de  Rembudcurt  in  manerio  Sidestan,  sed  non 
habet  rectum  clamorem. 


60  PIACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[Drogo  V.  WlDO.] 

In  "Wellebi  hundred  clamat  Drogo  IIII.  carucatas 
terre  super  Widon  de  Credun,  sed  wapentac  portat 
Widoni  testimonium  quod  jure  ejus  sunt. 


[Earl  Alan  v.  Wido.] 

Wido  de  Credone  tenet  in  Draitone  IIII.  bovatas 
terra?  et  in  Bichere  hundred  X.  bovatas,  de  terra  Adestan 
Godramsune.  Hoc  calumpniatur  comes  Alanus,  et  Alger 
homo  ejus  dedit  vadimonium  baronibus  regis,  ad  con- 
firmandum  per  judicium  aut  per  bellum,  quod  ipse 
Adestan  de  his  XIIII.  bovatis  saisitus  non  firit,  tempore 
regis  Edwardi.  E  contra  homo  Widonis  Alestan  de 
Frantone  dedit  suum  vadimonium  ad  convincendum 
quod  hide  saisitus  erat  cum  saca  et  soca,  et  Wido  hide 
fuit  saisitus  ex  tempore  Radulfi  stalre  usque  nunc,  et 
modo  tenet. 


[Same  Parties.] 

Guerd  homo  Alani  comes  dedit  vadimonium  ad  affir- 
mandum  quod  antecessor  Alani  comitis  habuit  VI. 
bovatas  terras  cum  saca  et  soca  in  Gosebert  cherche,  et 
ideo  Wido  de  Credun  non  recte  eas  clamat. 


WILLIAM    (.  61 

[Abbot  of  Tavistock.     Manor  or  Olwriton.] 

De  mansione  quco  vocatur  Olwritona  erat  saisitus  abbas 
Tauestochensis  ea  die  qua  rex  Willelmus  misit  barones 
suos  ad  inquireudas  terras  Angliee,  et  antecessor  sums 
ante  eum  fuerat  inde  saisitus,  et  per  barones  regis  inde 
desaisitus  fuit,  propter  quod  hoc  testati  sunt  Angli  quod 
ad  abbatiam  non  pertinuit  ea  die  qua  rex  Edwardus 
vivus  et  mortuus  fuit.1 

See  The  King  v.  Abbot  of  Tavistock,  post,  p.  60. 


[Land  in  Fotestorp.     Proof   by  Battle   or  Ordeal 

OFFERED.] 

Hanc  terrain  [in  Fotestorp]  calumpniatur  esse  libe- 
ram  Ulchetel  homo  Hemeri,  quocumque  modo  judicetur 
vel  bello  vel  juditio.  Et  alius  homo  prassto  est  probare 
vel  bello  vel  juditio  quod  jacebat  ad  a3cclesiam  Sanctse 
iEdeldredae  die  qua  rex  iEduuardus  obiit,  et  utque  dedit 
vadimonium  suum.  Et  totum  hundred  testatur  quod 
jacuit  ad  ecclesiam  Sauctse  iEdeldredse  tempore  regis 
Edwardi.2 

1  Exon  Doomsday  (4  Doomsd.),  165  (Original  returns  of  Dooms- 
day). 

2  Inquisitio  Com.  Cantab.  131,  Hamilton  (Original  returns  of 
Doomsday). 


WILLIAM  II. 

[The  Abbot  of  Abingdon  and  a  Miller  v.  Anskill. 
1088—1089.]' 

[The  defendant  adjudged  by  the  abbot's  court  to  pay  damages  for 
the  unlawful  destruction  of  an  aqueduct  by  his  (defendant's) 
men.] 

Hujus  regis  regni  anno  secundo,  quando  civitas  Roue- 
cestra  ab  eodem  obsidebatur,  contratenente  ipsam  Odone, 
Baiocensi  episcopo,  ejusdem  regis  patruo,  ductum  aquae, 
quern  vulg-o  Lacche  appellant,  apud  Boteleam,  viri  de 
Seuecurda  illicito  ausu  fregerunt.  Quibus  tunc  temporis 
Anskillus  dominabatur,  sed  eadem  in  qucestionem  res 
postca  in  abbatis  prsesentia  posita,  non  debere  fracturam 
illam  eo  quo  facta  est  modo  fieri  ratiocinatione  sancitur 
publica.  Unde  ille  Anskillus  apud  abbatem  hoc  com- 
missum  X.  pependit  solidis.  Egit  tamen  ut  tunc  indi- 
ceretur  molendinario  loci  illius  quatenus  sibi  singulis  ab 
eo  redderetur  annis  duarum  summa  orarum. 

The  defendant  was  at  this   time  a  tenant  of  Abingdon  by  knight 
service.     2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  4  (Roc.  Com.). 


[Citizens  of  London  and  Abbot  \Yydo.     1090.]s 

[Abbot  Wyilo  obtains  judgment  against  tho  citizens  of  London,  esta- 
blishii  "  bhe  righl  of  bhe  church  of  St.  Augustino  to  the  ad 

waters.] 

Anno  Domini  MLXXXX.  1'uil   magna  disceptatio  inter 

«  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  17  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  2  Twysden'a  Scriptores,  1793  (Thome's  Chron.). 


WILLIAM    n.  03 

cives  Londonienses  et  abbatem  et  homines  ejus  de 
Stonore.  Cives  Londonienses  vendicavcrunt  domi- 
nium villa?  de  Stonore  tanquam  de  maris  portu  civitati 
Londoniensi  subjecto.  Set  rege  Willelmo  llufTo  favente 
parti  abbatis,  dirationatum  est  in  eadem  villa  per  jus- 
ticiaries, quod  null  us  de  ccetero  aliquid  clamet  ibidem, 
set  Wydo  abbas  et  suus  conventus  libere  et  quiete  terram 
illam  et  totum  litus  usque  ad  medietatem  aquse  habeant 
sine  calumpnia  aliqua,  et  quod  abbas  Sancti  Augustini 
libere  possideat  omnes  rectitudines  et  consuetudines  ad 
prsedictam  villam  pertinentes.  Et  super  isto  processu 
sunt  carta?  duplices  prsedicti  regis.  Recordum  sive 
diratiocinium  praedictum  continuant  videlicet  Henricus 
rex  primus,  Stephanus,  Johannes  et  Henricus  tercius 
reges  Anglia?  temporibus  suis  illud  idem  cartis  suis  con- 
firmaverunt. 

[The  following  are  the  two  charters  of  Wm.  II.  referred  to.] 

Willelmus,1  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglorum,  archiepiscopis, 
abbatibus,  comitibus,  vicecomitibus,  et  omnibus  fidelibus 
totius  Anglise,  salutem.  Sciatis  quia  volo  et  prsecipio 
super  amicitiam  meam,  ut  nullus  a  modo  aliquid  reclamet 
in  Estanores,  sed  Wydo  abbas  de  Saneto  Augustino  et 
fratres  loci  ejusdem  libere  et  quiete  terram  illam  et 
totum  littus  usque  in  medietatem  aquae  habeant,  sine 
calumnia  ;  quia  ita  dirationatum  est  inter  homines  meos 
de  Londonia  et  homines  abbatis  in  tempore  meo,  coram 
justicia  mea  apud  Estanores.  Testibus  Willelmo  epis- 
copo  de  Ampelino,  et  Rogero  Bigot,  apud  Wyndesore. 

Willelmus2  rex  Anglorum  H.  dapifero,  et  omnibus 
baronibus  de  Kent,  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem.     Sciatis 

1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  355  (Rec.  Com.).  "  lb.  356. 


61-  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

quod  ego  volo  et  pracipio,  ut  Sanctus  Augustinus  et 
abbas  Wydo  a  modo  firmiter  et  honorifice  teneat  omnes 
rectitudines  suas  et  consnetudines  ad  Eastonores,  tarn 
in  aqua  quam  in  terra.  Et  nolo  ut  amplius  aliquis  ei 
inde  aliquam  injuriam  faciat.  Teste  Willelmo  episcopo 
Dunelmensi,  apud  Windeshore. 


[Abbot  of  Abingdon  v.  The  King's  Foresters.  About 
109:2.]' 

[The  abbot  of  Abingdon  obtains  a  writ  from  the  king,  commanding 
the  king's  foresters  not  to  molest  the  abbot  in  his  lands,  wood, 
and  pasture.] 

Pr^edict^;  autem  villa)  Uuinkefeld  regis  forestarii  pluri- 
mum  infesti  fiebant.  Quod  cum  ipsi  regi  abbatis  ex 
parte  deferretur,  illorum  molestiam  hujusmodi  coercuit 
mandato,  Uualtero  eidem  taliter  scribens  : — 

AVuillelmus,  rex  Anglorum,  Waltero  Oteri  filio,  salutem. 
Mando  tibi  et  prsecipio,  ut  abbati  Abbendona?  permittas 
habere  suam  terram  et  suam  silvam  omnino  liberam, 
prseter  silvestrem  silvam,  et  pascua  suorum  hominum 
habeat  in  praxlicta  silva;  et  vide  ne  amplius  de  hac 
silva  vel  terra  injuriam  abbati  facias. 


[Between   Alfnotii   and   Ala,   Priests.     Ecclesi- 
astical.    1092.]'2 

[Trial  at  a  synod  of  three  counties  concerning  disputes  between  the 


1  2  Uist.  Mon.  Abingd.  29  (Rec.  Com.). 


WILLIAM    II.  65 

priests  of  two  clrarohes,  resulting  in  favour  of  neither;  monks  of 
the  mother  church  having  intervened  successfully  against  both 
sides.] 

Ego  Wlstanus  gratia  Dei  Wigornensis  episcopus  decrevi 
synodum  congregare  in  monasterio  Sancta?  Maria?  in 
criptis,  quas  ego  a  fundamentis  aedificavi,  et  per  miseri- 
cordiam  Dei  postea  dedicavi.  Hsec  synod  us  habita  est 
anno  Dominican  Incarnationis  MXCII.  indictione  XV. 
Ad  banc  synodum  invitati  convenerunt  omnes  sapien- 
tissimas  persona?  de  tribus  comitatibus  nostra?  dioceseos, 
Wigracestriae  videlicet,  Glaucestria?,  Warewiccia? ;  eo 
quod  ego  longsevus  dierum,  imbecillitatem  corporis  mei 
sentiens,  et  finem  vita?  mea?  instare  intelligens,  cupie- 
bam  res  ecclesiasticas  nostra?  curse  commissas  canonice 
tractare,  et  qua?que  emendanda  forent  illorum  sapienti 
consilio  corrigere  et  emendare.  Nostra  itaque  humili- 
tate  in  hac  synodo  pra?sidente,  orta  est  questio  inter 
duos  presbiteros,  Alfnotbum  scilicet  presbiterum  Sancta? 
Elena?  et  Alam  presbiterum  Sancti  Albania  de  paro- 
cbiis  et  consuetudinibus  ecclesiarum  suarum.  Horum 
presbiterorum  altercatio  sanctam  synodum  multum 
detinuit.  Hanc  litem  ego  canonice  discindere  cupiens, 
jussi  seniores  quosque  et  quibus  notissima?  essent  anti- 
que institutiones  ecclesiarum  seu  parocbiarum  Wigra- 
cestria?,  veritatem  edicere,  tarn  de  supradictarum, 
quam  de  omnium  ecclesiarum  urbis  Wigracestria?,  anti- 
quissimis  institutionibus  et  parochiis.  Et  cum  inter 
supradictorum  presbiterorum  disceptationem  auditus  est 
a  sancta  synodo  clamor  filiorum  ecclesia?,  monachorum 
videlicet,  quod  ipsi  dampna  paterentur  suornm  redi- 
ttiura,  quos  juste  habere  debuissent  de  sua  ecclesia, 
Sancta?  Elena?  scilicet  propter  tarn  diuturnam  presbi- 
terorum discordiam  jussi,  sicut  de  institutionibus  caete- 

F 


66  IM, ACUTA    ANGI.O-NORMANNICA. 

rarum  ecclesiarum,  sic  etiam  de  hujus  matris  ecclesisa 
institutione  dicerent.  Ad  liarum  rerum  scrutinium  ex 
nostro  praecipio  fuerunt,  Thomas  prior,  Alfere  secretarius, 
Godricpiel  camerarius,  Uhtred  cantor,  Agelric  archidia- 
conus,  Edwine  frater  ejus,  Frideric,  Agelmar  prcsbiter, 
cum  aliis  quamplurimis,  quos  ad  hoc  elegi.  Hi  omnes 
igitur  communi  habito  consilio  reversi  in  sanctam 
synodum,  affirmaverunt  nullam  esse  parochiam  in  tota 
urbe  Wigracestria  nisi  tantum  matris  ecclesiae. 


[Claim  of  Abbot  of  St.  Augustine   to    Customs  at 
Newington.     1094.]1 

[An   inquisition   directed  concerning  the   customs  of  the  church  of 
St.  Augustine.] 

Willelmtjs  filius  regis  Willelmi,  vicecomiti  de  Kent, 
salutem.  Fac  recognosci  per  homines  hundredi  de 
Middeltone  epias  consnetudines  abbas  Sancti  August  in i 
habere  debet  in  villa  de  Xewingtone,  et  quas  olim  ha- 
buit.  Et  tales  fac  ci  habere  sine  mora  et  nominatim 
de  isto  auxilio,  sicut  olim  habuit.  Teste  episcopo  Sales- 
beriensi,  apud  Westmonasteriuni. 

1    lli-i.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  35G  (Roc.  Com.). 


WILLIAM    II.  67 

[Norway  Merchants  v.  Robert  de  Moaybray.    1095.] l 

[Four  ships  of  Norway  merchants  arc  driven  upon  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land, and  plundered  by  the  defendant.  The  king  orders  restitu- 
tion to  bo  made,  and  having  made  inquiry  into  the  extent  of  the 
Loss,  pays  the  amount  himself,  and  summons  the  defendant  to 

court,  but  without  avail.] 

Quatuor  naves  magnae,  quas  Canardos  vocant,  de 
North wegia  in  Angliam  appulsse  sunt;  quibus  Rodber- 
tus  et  Morellus,  nepos  ejus,  ac  satellites  eorum  occurre- 
runt,et  pacificis  mercatoribus  quid  quid  habebant,  violenter 
abstulerunt.  Illi  autem,  amissis  rebus  suis,  ad  regem 
accesserunt,  damnique  sui  querimoniam  lacryrnabiliter 
deprompserunt.  Qui  mox  imperiose  mandavit  Rodberto 
ut  mercatoribus  ablata  restitueret  continue  Sed  omnino 
contempta  est  lmjusmodi  jussio.  Magnanimus  autem 
rex  quantitatem  rerum  quas  amiserant,  inquisivit,  et 
omnia  de  suo  eis  serario  restituit.  Deinde  ad  curiam 
suam  Rodbertum  accersiit.     Sed  ille  venire  noluit. 


[Abbot  Reynold  v.  Edwy.     About  1096.] 2 

[The  abbot  of  Abingdon  obtains  a  writ  from  the  king  confirming  the 
rights  of  his  church,  and  directing  that  justice  be  done  to  some 
of  the  king's  officers,  who  had  inflicted  injury  upon  the  monks  of 
Abingdon.] 

[Speaking  of  King  William's  regard  for  abbot  Reynold,  the  clironi- 
cler  says  : — ] 

Testantur  quoque  et  litterarum  monimenta,  suae  gratise 
erga  abbatis  affectum  indicia,  quas  Petro  vicecomiti  de 

1  3  Ord.  Vital.  406  (French  Hist.  Soc). 

2  2  Hist.  Mou.  Abingd.  4L  (Rec.  Com.). 


68  PLACITA    A.M;l ,0-tfORM  WXICA. 

Oxeneford,  pro  quibusdam  sub  illius  manu  degentibus 
et  abbati  injuriam  inferentibus,  transmisit,  ita  jubendo  : 
Wuillelmus,  rex  A.nglorum,  Petro  de  Oxeneford,  salu- 
tem.  Sciatis  ([uod  volo  et  praecipio  ut  abbas  Rainaldus 
de  Abbendona,  et  monachi  ecclesise  sua?,  ita  bene  et 
honorifice  et  quiete  habeant  et  teneant  omnes  consuetu- 
dines  suas  ubique  in  omnibus  rebus,  sicut  melius  habue- 
runt  tempore  regis  Eadwardi,  et  tempore  patris  mei,  et 
nullus  homo  iis  inde  amplius  injuriam  faciat.  Teste 
ltanulfo  capellano.  Et  fae  abbati  praedicto  plenam 
rcctitudinem  de  Eadwi,  praeposito  tuo,  et  de  aliis  minis- 
tris  tuis,  qui  monaehis  suis  injuriam  fecerunt. 

[King  Rufus  had  previously  (10S7)  granted  the  following  charter  in 
favour  of  tho  abbey  at  Abingdon  : — ] 

\Villielmus/  rex  Anglke,  vicecomitibus  suis,  in  quorum 
vicecomitatibus  abbatia  de  Abbendonia  terras  habet,  salu- 
tem.  Praecipio  ut  tota  terra  abbatia1  de  Abbendonia  ita 
bene  et  pleniter  habeat  sacham  suam  et  soeham  et  omnes 
consuetudines  suas,  sicut  melius  habuit  et  plenius  tem- 
pore regis  Eaduuardi  et  patris  mei ;  et  defendo  ne  aliquis 
inde  injuriam  faciat.  Teste  Eudone  dapifero,  per  Radul- 
fum  de  Languetot,  apud  Leg-am.  Et  hundredum  de 
Hornimere  similiter,  sicut  tunc  temporis  habuit,  testibus 
praedictis. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  17  (Eec.  Com.). 


william  [i.  69 

[Case  of  William  of  Ou.     1096.] ' 

[The  defendant  is  accused  of  treason,  tried  by  battle,  and  vanquished. 
He  is  maimed,  and  his  steward  hung.] 

Hoc  anno  tenuit  rex  "Willelmus  suam  curiam  ad  Christi 
natales  in  Windlesora;  atque  in  octavis  Epiphaniae  fuit 
rex  omnesque  ejus  optimates  in  Searbyrig.  Ibi  accusa- 
vit  Gosfrei  Bainard  Willelmum  de  Ou  regis  propinquum, 
asseverans  eum  fuisse  participeni  conspirationis  contra 
regem,  et  duello  cum  eo  decertavit,  eumque  praelio 
simplici  vicit ;  et  postea,  superato  jussit  rex  oeulos  erui, 
ac  deinde  testiculos  abseindi ;  et  illius  dapiferum  Willel- 
mmn  nomine,  filium  amitse  illius,  jussit  rex  in  crucem 
tolli. 


[The  King  v.  Abbot  of  Tavistock.     1096.]  2 

[The  king  sends  bishop  Walkelm  and  his  chaplain  and  two  others  to 
enter  royal  pleas  in  Devonshire,  Cornwall,  and  Exeter.  They 
bring  suit  on  behalf  of  the  king  for  a  certain  manor  held  by  the 
abbot  of  Tavistock ;  but  the  defendant  proves  title  by  pre- 
scription. The  parties  all  unite  in  praying  a  grant  by  the  king 
to  the  defendant,  which  is  made.] 

Anno  Dominica?  incarnationis  millesimo  nonagesimo 
sexto,  regni  autem  inclitee  recordationis  secundi  Guil- 
lielmi  IX.  misit  idem  rex  in  Quadragesima  optimates 
suos  in  Devenesiram  et  Cornubiam  et  Exoniam,  Walca- 
linum  videlicet  Wyntoniensem   episcopum,  Randulplinm 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  6,  note  (fol.  ed.),  Latin  version  of  Aug. -Sax. 
Chron.  for  1096. 

2  2  Monasticon,  497  (ed.  18-16). 


70  PLACITA     IlNGLO-NOKMANNICA. 

regalem  eapellanum,  Willielmum  Capram,  Hardinum 
ISelnoldi  iilium,  ad  investiganda  regalia  placita.  Quibus 
in  placitis  calumpniati  sunt  cuidam  mansioni  abbaciae 
Taviensis,  nomine,  Wlurintune;  dicentes  et  affirmantes 
illam  mansionem  injuste  attinere  Tavystochiensi  abbacise, 
set  potius  illam  regal i  dominio  semper  recte  insistere. 
Dictis  quorum  et  calumpniis  nos  abnegantes  comproba- 
vimus,  mansionem  illam  plurimorum  auctoritate  ante- 
cessorum  nostrorum  Tavystochiensi  abbatiae  absque  ulla 
calumpnia  perhenni  jure  pertinere.  Qua  de  causa  una 
cum  regalibus  supradictis  placitatoribus  regem  Anglo-rum 
requisivimus  quatinus  illam  mansionem  supradictam 
pro  Dei  amore  et  Sanctae  Maria?,  Taviensi  abbatiae, 
al  isque  ulla  calumpnia  perhenni  jure,  concederet  subjacere. 
Quibus  quidem  auditis  et  enarratis  ante  regem,  ipse  rex 
petitioni  nostra?  adquiescens,  pro  anima  patris  sui  et 
matris  sua?,  abbatiae  Dei  et  Sanctae  Marise  Tavyiensis 
eeclesiae  illam  mansionem,  videlicet  Wlurintune  inper- 
petuo  restituens  in  haec  verba  respond  it  : 

Ego  Guillielmus  rex  Anglorum  Osberno  episcopo 
salutem  et  Guillielmo  lilio  Baldewyni  et  Guarino  vice- 
comiti  de  Cornubia  el  omnibus  fidelibus  meis  Francis  et 
Anglis  de  Devenasira  et  Cornubia.  Sciatis  me  dedisse 
Deo  et  Sanctae  Mariae  et  ecclesi;c  de  Tavystok  pro  anima 
patris  mei  et  matris  meae  ipsiusque  mei  manerium  de 
Wlurintuna,  et  ut  bene  illud  et  honorifice  in  omnibus 
Guimundus  successoresque  sui  abbates  constituti  indesi- 
nenter  hactenus  possideant.  Hoc  denique  sciaut  omnes 
quod  nx  per  cultellum  eburneum  quod  in  manu  fcenuit 
el  abbati  porrexit  hoc  donum  peregil  apud  curiam, 
fcestimonio  virorum  illorum  nomina  quorum  infrascripta 
dinoscuntur.  Ego  Walchalinus  Wyntoniensis  episcopus 
dedi  testimonium.     Ego  Johannes  Batoniensis  episcopus 


WILLIAM    II.  71 

consensi,  et  ego  abbas  Turstinus  Glastoniensis  assensum 
prsebui,  etc.  Qui  quidem  cultellus  jaeet  in  feretro  Sancti 
Rumoni.  In  cujus  manubrio  inseritur  talis  scriptura. 
>J<  Ego  Willielmus  rex  dedi  Deo  et  Sanctas  Marise  de 
Tavistoc  terram  Wlerintun. 

See  Abbot  of  Tavistock,  ante,  p.  61,  a  previous  dispute  about  the 
same  manor,  there  called  Olwriton. 


CASES    OF   THIS    REIGN    OF    LESS  CERTAIN 
DATE. 

[Monks  of  St.  Benet.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  ordering  an  assembly  of  the  county  of  Hants,  and 
an  inquisition  (?)  into  the  title  to  land  at  Isham  in  the  time  of 
his  father,  at  the  suit  of  the  monks  of  St.  Benet ;  followed  by 
his  writ  of  execution  in  favour  of  the  abbey.] 

Rex,  Willielmo  de  Cahannis,  salutem.  Prsecipio  tibi,  ut 
facias  convenire  sciram  de  Hamtona,  et  judicio  ejus, 
cognosce,  si  terra  de  Isham  reddidit  firmam  monachis 
Sancti  Benedicti,  tempore  patris  mei,  et  si  ita  inventum 
fueritj  sit  in  dominio  abbatis ;  si  vero  teinlanda  tunc 
fuisse  invenietur,  qui  earn  tenet,  de  abbate  teneat,  et 
recognoscat.  Quod  si  noluerit,  earn  abbas  in  dominio 
habeat,  et  vide  ne  clamor  inde  amplius  ad  me  redeat. 
Teste  Willielmo  episcopo  Dunelmensi. 

Rex,  Willielmo  vicecomiti,  salutem.  Mando  et  prse- 
cipio tibi  ut  abbatem  Ailsi  facias  habere  Isham,  sicut 
ipse  dirationavit  earn  in  Hamtona,  et  sicut  testimoniata 
et  jurata  fuit  ad  opus  Sancti  Benedicti.  Teste  R. 
Bigot. 

1   Brady's  Hist.  England,  Pref.49;  2 PaJgrave,  Commonwealth,  179. 


72  plac1ta  a.nglo-normannica. 

[Church  of  St.  Benet.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  churcli  of  St.  Benet  be  put  in 
seisin  of  certain  lands,  men,  and  bordars.] 

W.  rex  Anglorum  H.  comiti  et  Gosceliuo  prseposito 
salutem.  Prsecipio  vobis  ut  saysiatis  abbatiam  Sancti 
Benedicti  et  Ranulplmm  monachum  de  centum  acris 
terra?  et  sex  acris  prati,  et  de  IIII.  hominibus,  et  de 
triginta  acris  in  burgo  et  de  tribus  bordariis  sicut 
ecclesia  Sancti  Benedicti  inde  erat  saysita  eo  die  quo 
pater  meus  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus.  Et  sciatis  quod  ista 
terra  inbreviata  fuit  in  meis  brevibus  ad  opus  ecelesiae 
Sancti  Benedicti  qui  sunt  in  thesauro  meo  Wyntoniae. 
Et  hoc  testantur  breves  mei  de  C.  acris  terra?  et  VI. 
acris  prati  et  quatuor  horainibus  in  Wynterton  et  tri- 
ginta acris  in  Burc  et  III.  bordariis.  Testibus  episcopo 
Dunelmensi  et  W.  cancellario. 


[Case  of  Fifty  Men.]  - 

[Fifty  men,  accused  of  taking  stags  in  the  king's  forest  without  per- 
mission, purge  themselves  by  the  ordeal  of  hot  iron.] 

Quinquaginta  circiter  viri  quibus  adhuc  illis  diebus,  ex 
antiqua  Anglorum  ingenuitate,  divitiarum  qua-dam  vesti- 
gia arridere  videbantur,  capti  sunt,  et  calumniati,  quod 
cervos  regis  ceperint,mactaverint,manducaverint.  Negant 
illi;  unde  statim  ad  judicium  rapti,  judicantur,  injectam 
calumniam,  examine  igniti  ferri,  a  se  propulsare  debere. 
Statuto  itaque  die,  prsefixi  poena?  judieii  pariter  subacti 
sunt  remota  pietate  et  misericordia.  Erat  ergo,  miseriam 
videre,  verum  omnipotens  Deus  cui  misericordiam  et  judi- 
cium canit  Davidicus  Psalmus,  innocentia  eorum,  servatis 
misericorditer  ab  exustione  manibus  omnium,  cunctis 
ostehdit,  e1  malitia  hominum  ens  impie  destruere  cupien- 
liiiiu  quam  injusta  luerit,  justo  judicio  declaravit. 

1  3  Monasticon,  86  (ed.  1846).  2  Hist.  Novorum,  48. 


HENRY  I. 

[Liberties  of  Abingdon.  1100.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  respect  thereto.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  omnibus  vicecomitibus  suis 
in  quorum  vicecomitatibus  et  ministeriis  abbatia  Abben- 
done  terras  habet,  salutem.  Praecipio  ut  tota  terra 
abbatise  de  Abbendona  ita  plene  et  pleniter  habeat 
sacam  suam  et  socam,  et  omnes  consuetudines  suas, 
in  burgo  et  extra  burg-um,  sicut  melius  habuit  et 
plenius  tempore  regis  Eadwardi  et  patris  mei ;  et  latro- 
nem  similiter,  sicut  tunc  temporis  habuit ;  et  defendo  ne 
aliquis  ei  inde  injuriam  faciat.  Teste  Eudone  dapifero; 
apud  Westmonasterium  in  nuptiis  meis.  Et  etiam 
sicuti  frater  meus  per  breve  suum  prrecepit.2  Teste 
eodem. 


[Ruaculus  de  Abrincts  v.  Abbey  of  Abingdon. 
1101— 1102.]3 

[The  king  directs  an  inquisition  concerning  three  virgates  of  land, 


1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  89  (Rec.  Com.). 
2  See  ante,  p.  68.  3  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  8-i  (Rec.  Com.). 


74  PLAC1TA    ANGLO- NORM  ANNICA. 

claimed  by  the  plaintiff  as  belonging  to  the  manor  of  Stanton, 
given  him  by  the  king.] 

Hknbicus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  de  Bocbelanda  et 
"NY  ill  id  mo  vicecomiti  de  Oxeneford,  salutem.  Prsecipite 
ex  mei  parte  hominibus  vestrorum  comitatuum,  at  ipsi, 
sieut  me  diligunt,  veritatem  oninino  dieant  de  tribus 
virgatis  terrae,  quas  Ruaculus  de  Abrincis  reclamat ; 
et  si  pertinent  ad  manerium  quod  ego  ei  dedi  de 
ntona,  habeat  ipse;  sin  autem,  habeat  ipsa  abbatia 
de  Abbendonia.  Teste  Rogero  cancellario.  Per  .  .  .  agan 
[Pagan?]  Basset;  apud  Grentebruge. 


[Church  of  St.  Peter  of  Gloucester.  1101.]' 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  from  toll  and  customs.] 

IIkxuicuSj  rex  Angliae,  omnibus  baronibus  et  vice- 
comitibus  suis  et  ministrisj  Francis  ei  Anglis,  salutem. 
Prapcipio  quod  tota  pecunia  Sancti  Petri  de  Gloucestria, 
et  abbatis  et  monachorunij  sit  quieta  ab  omni  tbeloneo 
et  consuetudine  ubicunque  venerit.  Et  defendo  super 
decern  libras  forisfacturae  ne  aliquis  cos  disturbed  nee 
amplius  inde  clamorem  audiam.  Testibus  Rogero 
cancellario  et  Eudone  dapif'ero  apud  Niweham. 

1  2  Chron.  Hon.  Glouc.  131  (Rec.  Com.). 


I1KXUY    I.  75 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  William,  the  King's 
Chamberlain.     1101.] ' 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  judgment  in  respect  of  a  knight's  fee,  in  the 
presence  of  the  wise  men,  to  wit,  sheriffs,  justiciars,  and 
barons.] 

Est  juxta  Abbendoniae  burgum  unius  militis  mansio, 
quae  Leia  vocatur;  banc  WillelmuSj  regis  camerarius, 
de  Lundonia,  tenebat,  sed  nullum  inde  sevvitium 
militis  vel  homagium  domno  Faritio  abbati,  cum 
abbatiam  primo  suscepisset,  impendere  volebat.  Et 
contigit  iuterea  ut  rex  Henricus  contra  fratrem  suum 
Eobertum,  Normannise  comitem,  super  se  in  Anglia  cum 
exercitu  veuientem,  totius  regni  sui  expeditionem  dirigit. 
Turn  abbas  a  Willelmo  repra?sentationem  militis 
expectens,  nee  ab  ejus  importunitate  impetrans,  pru- 
denter  id  sustinet,  et  militem  ipse  quaesitum  alteram 
supponit.  Verum  rege  fratri  suo  pacis  firmatione  unito, 
abbatis  testibus  coram  deductis,  quod  militem  haec 
possessio  tempore  senioris  regis  Willelmi  et  abbatis 
Adelmi  inveuit,  nunc  vero  eum  regnanti  regi  Henrico 
et  eodem  indigenti  retentum  palam  fuerit,  tamdiu  in 
prsesentia  sapientium  banc  rem  ventilari  fecit,  ut  ille 
neutrum  negaret,  immo  fateri  sic  esse  vera  ratione 
cogaretur.  Unde  cum  lege  patrias  decretum  proces- 
sisset  ipsum  exsortem  terra?  merito  debere  fierij  inter- 
pellatione  bonorum,  qui  intererant,  virorum,  reddit 
terram  illam  ill i  eo  tenore,  quod  Willelmus  effectus 
est  homo  ipsius,  et  decern  libras  pro  emendatioue  dedit, 
et  servitium  unius  militis  facere  debet  in  omni  loco  ubi 
caeteri  homines  ecclesiae  faciunt  servitium  milituni,  et  nulli 
unquam  debet  illam  terrain  vendere,    vel  vadiinonizare, 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  128  (Rec.  Com.). 


76  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-XOKMAXXK  A. 

vel  in  feudo  dare,  sive  in  feudo  firma.  .  .  .  Hoc  actum 
est  coram  his  testibus;  Nigello  de  Oili,  Hugone  de 
Bochelandaj  Willelmo  vicecomite,  Radulfo  Basset,  et 
multorum  aliorum. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Goscelin.     1101.] 1 

[The   plaintiff   recovers  judgment  in  his  own  court  in   respect   of 
another  knight's  fee.J 

Disrationavit  etiam  eo  die  abbas  Faritius  contra 
Godcelinum  de  Riveria  servitium  unius  militis  de 
Bedena.  Idem  dicebat  se  non  debere  facere  servitium, 
nisi  duorum  militum,  pro  feudo  quern  tenebat  de 
ecclesia,  et  abbas  et  sui  dicebant  eum  debere  servitium 
trium  militum.  Tandem  vero  vadimonizavit  et  servi- 
tium et  rectum  abbati,  et  firmavit,  et  omnino  concessit 
se  et  debere  facere  et  de  csetero  facturum  trium  militum 
servitium.  Et  hoc  actum  est  in  Abbendonensi  camera 
coram  abbate  Faritio  multorum  testimonio. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Nigel  de  Oilio.]2 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  judgment  in  respect  of  a  third  knight's  fee.] 
Nigellus  de  Oilio  tenebat  unum  pratum  apud  Oxeneford, 

»  2  Uist.  Mon.  Abingd.  129  (Rec.  Com.).  4  lb.  132. 


HENRY    r.  77 

et  imam  bidam  in  Sand  ford,  et  alteram  in  Earnecote, 
de  feudo  scilicet  Abbendoniae ;  sed  nullum  homagium 
vel  servitium  longo  post  tempore  advent  us  ipsius  Faritii 
abbatis  ad  Abbendoniam  inde  ecclesia)  fecerat.  Qua- 
propter  abbas  contra  ipsum  disratiocinando  eget,  ut 
et  ecclesiaB  et  sibi  pro  bis,  qua?  tenebat,  bomagium 
faceret,  et  boc  tenore  eadem  in  posterum  recognosceret, 
scilicet  ut  in  omni  regis  geldo  ipsa  quietet,  et  abbati 
sicut  suo  domino  ubique  serviat.  In  vicecomitatibus 
Bercbescire  et  Oxenefordscire,  quandocumque  abbas 
eum  mandaverit,  ad  auxiliandum  sibi  et  serviendum 
paratus  aderit ;  nee  excusabitur  ab  ecclesise  servitio, 
nisi  regis  eum  detinuerit  executio.  Quod  si  ita  consti- 
terit,  pro  se  de  melioribus  suis  bominibus  in  abbatis 
obsequium  transmitted  In  curia  etiam  regis  si  abbati 
placitum  aliquod  forte  habendum  contigerit,  ipsius 
abbatis  parti  idem  aderit,  nisi  contra  regem  placitandum 
forte  fuerit.  Ad  eandem  curiam  venienti  abbati  pro- 
curabit  bospitium  ;  et  si  aptum  illi  non  invenerit,  suum 
proprium  cedet  ipsius  respectui. 


[Same  Paeties.]1 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  a  parcel  of  land  in  Oxford,  upon  the  premises 
in  question,  before  many  witnesses.] 

Eodem  mense  quo  et  ista  ventilata  est  causa,  abbas 
contra  eundem  Nigellum  de  Oilli  disratiocinavit  quan- 
dam    terra?    portiunculam    infra    Oxenefordae    civitatem 

2  Hist.  Mou.  Abingd.  133  (Rec.  Com.). 


78  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

si  tarn,  in  via  scilicet  qua  itur  a  Sancti  Michaelis  ecclcsia 
ad  Castellum.  Quae  terra  manerio  Tademertune  ab 
antiquo  adjacet  tempore.  Verum  hsec  prsecedenti 
tempore  in  neglectum  venerat,  adeo  ut  de  hac  nullam 
exhiberet  tunc  Nigellus  ecclesise  recognitionem.  Itaque 
ipsius  abbatis  justse  rationi  se  idem  submittens,  tali  post 
illud  lempus  tenore  de  ecelesia  praedicta  terrain  suscepit 
tenendam,  utgablum  antiquitus  consuetum  inde  persolvi, 
id  est  VI.  denarios,  et  ipse  Nigellus  singulis  annis  ad 
nativitatem  Sanctse  Maria;  illi  collectori  in  eadem  villa 
redderetj  qui  aliud  ecelesia?  gablum  illic  collegeret. 
Quod  plaeitum  factum  est  super  eandem  terrain  coram 
multis  testibus. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Walter  Giffard.]1 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  a  knight's  fee  of  lands  situated  at  Linford, 
before  bishops  and  barons  of  the  king,  at  a  private  house.] 

Walterus  comes  junior,  cognomine  Giffardus,  mane- 
rium  VII.  hidarum,  quod  vocatur  Linford,  tenebat ;  et 
est  ex  jure  ecclesise  lmjus ;  sed  ipse  comes  iude  ser- 
vitium  debitum  contra  tenere  moliebatur.  Quare  in- 
dustria  abbatis  Faritii  tantum  in  hoc  prsevaluit  ut 
idem  comes  coram  Rogero  Saresberiensi,  ac  Roberto 
Lincolniensi,  et  multis  regis  baronibus,  ecelesia?  et 
abbatis  homo  efficeretur;  eo  tenore  ut  ex  ilia  terra 
militis  unius  scrvitium  omnimodo  reddat,  quo  alii 
ecelesia'  milites  servitia  exhibent. 

'  2  Bisfc.  Mon.  Abingd.  133  (Roc.  Com.). 


IIKXRY     I.  79 

Ha>c  omnia1  disratiocinata  fuere  pra?cepto  Henrici 
regis  apud  Oxeneford,  in  domo  Thomas  de  Sancto 
Johanne,  et  ubi  abbas  tunc  curiam  suam  fecit,  eo  quod 
ille  Thomas  suns  homo  erat. 


[Case  of  Matilda.     Ecclesiastical.     1101.]5 

[Matilda  (previously  called  Edith),  daughter  of  Malcolm,  king  of  the 
Scotch,  and  of  Saxon  birth  on  her  mother's  side,  having  con- 
sented to  marry  Henry  I.  of  England,  it  was  charged  against 
her  by  the  Normans  that  she  had  taken  the  veil.  She  goes  to 
Anselm  to  consult  with  him  under  the  circumstances,  and  denies 
that  she  had  ever  done  this  voluntarily.  She  had,  she  admitted, 
sometimes  in  her  youth  appeared  veiled,  but  she  was  then  under 
the  care  of  her  aunt  Christina  (her  parents  having  died),  who  to 
protect  her  from  the  libertinism  of  the  Normans,  had  sometimes 
placed  a  piece  of  black  cloth  on  her  head.  This  she  would  refuse 
to  wear,  and  as  soon  as  her  aunt  was  out  of  sight,  would  tear  it 
off  and  throw  it  away  in  anger.3  The  trial  takes  place  before 
bishops,  abbots,  nobles,  and  other  men  of  religious  orders,  re- 
sulting in  favour  of  Matilda.] 

Quid  plura  ?  DifFert  Anselmus  sententiam  ferre,  ct 
causam  judicio  religiosarum  personarum  regni  deter- 
minandam  pronunciat.  Statuto  itaque  die  coeunt  ad 
nutum  illius,  episcopi,  abbates,  nobiles  quique,  ac 
religiosi  ovdinis  viri  in  villa  Sancti  Andrea?  de  Rove- 
cestra  quae  Lambeta  vocatuTj  quo  et  ipsum  praesentis 
negotii  tunc  tenor  adduxerat.  Causa  igitur  juxta 
praescriptam   seriem  in  medium  deducta  est.     Prodeunt 

1  The  last  three  cases. 
'-'  Hist.  Novorum,  57. 

8  It  should  be  stated  that  this  is  taken  from  the  introductory  re- 
marks of  Eadmer,  and  is  not  drawn  from  the  text  which  here  follows. 


80  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORM ANNICA. 

bine  inde  idonei  testes,  verba  puellae,  purse  veritati 
subnixa,  protestantes.  Accedunt  istis  archidiaconi  duo 
Willielnms  videlicet  Cantuariensis,  et  Humbaldus  Ser- 
beriensis,  quos  pater  Auselmus  Wiltuniam,  ubi  ilia 
fuerat  educata,  pro  liujus  rei  certitudine  rimanda 
direxerat,  qui  publica  voce  testati  sunt  se  et  rem  a 
sororibus  diligentissime  perquisisse,  et  nil  quod  relatae 
rationi  obsisteret,  ab  eis  capere  potuisse.  Monet  ergo 
Anselmus  et  per  ehristianam  obedientiam  omnibus 
imperat,  ut  nullum  a  veritate  favor  aut  timor  defiectat, 
sed  sicut  revera  causae  Dei  quo  juste  determinetur  unus- 
quisque  pro  viribus  opem  ferat  ne,  quod  absit,  aiens, 
talis  judicii  sententia  prodeat,  cujus  exemplo  in  super- 
venturis  temporibus,  vel  sua  quilibet  libertate  non 
jure  privetur,  vel  Deus  bis,  quae  sui  juris  esse  debent, 
injuria  defrudetur.  Acclamant  omnes,  ita  faciendum, 
et,  se  non  aliter  facturos,  spondent.  Remoto  itaque  a 
conventu  solo  patre,  ecclesia  Angliae  quae  convenerat 
in  unum  de  proferenda  sententia  tractat.  Deinde  illo 
in  medium  reverenter  adducto,  expositum  est  quid  de 
negotio  communis  omnium  consensus  invenerit.  Ratum 
aiunt  perspecta  re  sibi  videri,  et  ad  hoc  comprobandum 
paratos  se  asserunt,  nulla  sententia  posse  puellam  pro 
causa  sua  jure  constringi,  quin  libertate  corporis  sui 
quocunque  modo  legaliter  velit,  valeat  uti.  Quod  licet, 
inquiunt,  levi  argumento  probare  possemus,  eo  tarn  en 
cum  opus  non  sit,  supersedemus,  nostris  argumentis 
firmiorem  tenentes  parem  judicii  liujus  sententiam  a 
venerandce  memoria?  prsedecessore  vestro,  et  patre  et 
magistro  nostro  Lanfranco,  simili  de  causa,  promul- 
gatam.  Nam  quando  ille  magnus  Willielmus  hanc 
terrain  prinio  devicit,  multi  suorum  sibi  pro  tanta 
victoria  applaudenlc-,  niaque  suis  voluntatibus  atque 


HENRY   I.  81 

luxuriis  obedirc,  ac  subdi  debere  autumantes,  non  solum 
in  posscssiones  victorum,  sed  et  in   ipsas    matronas    et 
virgines    ubi   eis    facultas    aspirabat,    nefanda    libidine 
coeperunt  insanire.     Quod  nonnullse  praevidentes,  et  suo 
pudori  metuentes  monasteria  virginum  petivere,  accep- 
toque  velo  scsc  inter  ipsas  a  tanta  infamia  protexere. 
Qvuv  clades,  cum  postmodum  sedata    et    pro    temporis 
qualitate  pax  rebus    data  fuisset,   qiuesitum  ab  eodem 
patre  Lanfranco  est  quid  de  his  quae  tali  refugio  suam 
pudieitiam  servaverunt,  ipse  sentiret;  essentne  videlicet 
constringendae  in  monasterio  velum  tenere  quod  aecepe- 
rant,  necne.     At  ipse  queestionem  ipsam  consilio  gene- 
ralis  concilii  taliter  solvit  ut  eis  pro  castitate  quam  se 
tain   manifestse  rei   ostensione    amare  testatae    fuerant, 
debitam  magis   reverentiam  judicaret  exhibendam  quam 
ullam    servanda?    religionis    continentiam,   nisi  propria 
illam     voluntate      appeterent,    violenter      ingerendam. 
Et    adjunxerunt.      His     interfuimus,  haec    approbari  a 
sapientibus  viris  audivimus,  et  haec  in  praesenti  negotio 
valere  volumus    ac    roborari    postulamus.     Licet    enim 
sciamus  causam  illarum  istius  esse  leviorem  dum  ille1 
sponte  ista  coacta  pari  de  causa  velum  portaverit,  tamen 
ne  quis  nos  favore  cujusvis  duci  existimet,  non  ultra 
progredi  in  judicio  volumus  hoc  solo  content^  ut  quod 
valuit    in    majori    valeat    in   minori.     Tunc  Anselmus 
ad  hsec.     Scitis  quid  monuerim,  quid  praeceperim,  quid- 
que  polliciti  sitis.     Cum  igitur  secundum   quod    vobis 
visum    est    justius    in    commune    judicaveritis,    sicut 
asseritis,    ego    judicium    vestrum    non    abjicio,    sed   eo 
securius    illud    suscipio    quo     tanti     patris    autoritate 
sullullum  andio.     Ilia  dehinc  in  medium  dueitur,  gesta 


'   ilia. 


82  PLACITA    ANOLO-NORMANNICA. 

comi  vultu  audit,  et  amplectitur,  auditum  sibi  prsestari 
paucis  precatur.  Loquens  ergo  obhilit  se  vcl  Sacramento 
vel  alia  quain  tuagis  eligerent  ecclesiastica  lege,  pro- 
batnram  solidse  veritati  subnixam  esse  jam  defiuitam 
rationem  suam.1 


[The  King  v.  Robert  Malet  et  al.     1102.]3 

[  Fines  and  outlawry.] 

Anno  ab  incarnatione  Domini  MCIL,  indietione  IX., 
Henricus,  rex  Anglorum,  pace  cum  Rodberto  f rat  re  suo 
facta,  in  regno  confirmatus  est,  et  super  proditores,  qui 
tempore  necessitatis  sua  nequiter  ab  illo  desciverant, 
paulatim  ulcisci  conatus  est.  Nam  Rodbertum,  cogno- 
mento  Maletum  et  Ivonem  de  Grentemaisnilio,  Rodber- 
tum  de  Pontefracto,  filium  Ilberti  de  Laceio,  et  poten- 
tiorem  omnibus  illis,  Rodbertum  de  Belismo,3  aliosque 
quamplures  ad  judicium  summonuitj  nee  simul,  sed 
separatim,  variisque  temporibus,  de  multimodis  viola! a' 
fidei  reatibus  implacitavit.  Quosdam  eorum,  qui  se  de 
objecto  crimine  purgare  non  poterant,  ingenti  pecunia 
condemnavit,  alios  vero,  quos  magis  suspectos  babebat, 

Lrrecuperabiliter  exheredatos  exulare  compulit 

Rodbertum   de   Pontefracto,  et  Rodbertum    Maletum 

placitis    impetivit,  et    honoribus    exspoliatos    extorres 

lit.     Ivonem    quoque,    quia    guerram    in    Anglia 

1    l:  i  his. 

"-  4  Qrd.  ioc). 


1 1  i:\ry  i.  83 

coeperatj  ct  vicinoram  rura  suorum  incendio  eombusserat 
(quod  in  ilia  regione  crimen  est  inusitatum,  nee  sine 
gravi  ultione  lit  expiatum),  rigidus  censor  accusatum, 
nee  purgatum,  ingentis  pecuniae  redditione  oneravit,  et 
plurimo  angore  tribulatum  morstificavit. 

The  two  paragrajjhs  above  appear  to  refer  to  the  same  trials. 


[The  King  v.  Robert  Belisme.     1102.]1 

[The  defendant  outlawed  by  the  king  and  barons.] 

Anno  ab  incarnatione  Domini  MCIL,  indictione  X., 
Henricus  rex  Rodbertum  de  Belismo,  potentissimum 
comitem,  ad  curiam  suam  ascivit,  et  XLV.  reatus  in 
factis  seu  dictis  contra  se  vel  fratrem  suimi,  Normannise 
ducem,  commissos  objecit,  et  de  singulis  eum  palam 
respondere  praecepit.  Diligenter  enim  eum  fecerat  per 
unum  annum  explorari,  et  vituperabiles  actus  per 
privatos  exploratores  caute  investigari,  summopereque 
litteris  annotari.  Cum  que  Rodbertus  licentiam,  ut 
moris  est,  eundi  ad  consilium  cum  suis  postulasset, 
eademque  accepta,  egressus,  purgari  se  de  objectis 
criminibus  non  posse  agnovisset,  equis  celeriter  ascensis, 
ad  castella  sua  pavidus  et  anhelus  confugit,  et,  rege 
cum  baronibus  suis  responsum  expectante,  regius  satelles 
Rodbertum  extemplo  recessisse  retulit.  Tunc  delusum 
se  rex  doluit ;  sed  tempus  ultionis  non  dubius  expectavit. 
Rodbertum   itaque   publicis    questibus    impetitum,   nee 

1    I  Or,!.  Vital.  169  (French  Hist.  Soc.). 
G  'I 


S|  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

legaliter  expiatum,  palam  blasphemavit,  ct,  nisi  ad 
judicium,  rectitudinem  facturus,  remearet,  publicum 
hostem  judicavit.  Iterum  rebellem  ad  concionem 
invitavit ;  seel  illc  venire  prorsus  refutavit. 


[Abdot  Gatjsfrid  v.  Robert  de  Chilton. 
Ecclesiastical.     1 102.] l 

[The  defendant,  a  servant  of  the  late  abbot  of  Battel,  is  accused  by 
the  plaintiff  of  peculation,  and  refusing  to  answer,  in  which  he  is 
supported  by  his  friends,  he  and  they  are  summoned  to  a  court  at 
Battel.  The  parties  appear,  but  decline  to  answer  except  in  their 
<>w  n  county;  whereupon  the  plaintiff  closes  and  fastens  the  door 
of  the  court-room,  and  compels  them  to  attend  to  the  cause,  and 
obtains  judgment.] 

Cum que  prsecipuum  ecclesise  manerium  Wi  adisset 
[G-ausfridus],  quod  quidam  abbatis  defuncti  serviens 
procuraverat  Robertus  cog-nomento  de  Ciltuna,  in* 
venissetque  illud  undiqiie  distractum,  ecepit  eausas  ab 
ipso  prseposito  rationemque  requirere  villicationis.  Qui 
cum  domino  suo  jam  defuncto  so  inde  satisfecisse  referret, 
oec  sic  isle  adquiesceos  testes  exigeret,  tandem  convictum 
in  ejusdem  manerii  curiam  compulit.  Cumque  vi 
nobilium  provincial  (pins  sibi  asciveral,  sequitati  parere 
penitus  detrectasset,  cum  suosque  praesentes,  ex  regis 
Qomine  die  denominate,  prseeipiendo  apud  Belli  curiam 
adesse  idem  ecclesiae  procurator  summonuit.  Quibus 
Dec  post  multam  couflictationem  quicquam  certi  re- 
spondentibus  in   his  disceditur.     Die   vero  denominato 

1  Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,  17  (Aug.  Chris.  Soc  )• 


HENRY   I.  85 

cum  praedicti  placitatores  Fulbertus  scilicet  de  Cilleham, 
Rotbertus  Filled  Haimo  filius  Vitalis,  et  Brother 
presbiter  aliique  harones  quamplurimi  cum  prsedicto 
llotberto,  vi  ac  terrore  regii  nomiuis,  Bataliensem  adissent 
curiam,  ct  jam  hora  tardior  noctem  minitaret,  placitum 
dominus  Gausfridus  persuasione  etsi  aegre  in  primum 
Dominici  adventus  diem  recrastiuavit.  Ilabebat  enim 
quoddam  iu  se  memoriale,  quatiuus  agendis  exterioribus 
ad  memoriam  posterorum  nou  solum  seniores  fratrum 
sed  et  juniores  interesse  procuraret,  et  tardiori  id  hora 
tunc  fieri  ordinis  custodia  prohibebat.  Itaque  post 
opulentam  hospitalitatem  curia  statuta,  circumassidenti- 
bus  sibi  fratribus,  summonitos  Gausfridus  affatur : 
"  Quoniam  mi  seniores  carissimi  praesenti  vos  pramioniti 
intulistis  curia?,  utrum  rectitudinis  hinc  exequendse  et 
recipienda?  causa  adveneritis  sciscitor.'"  llli  vero  cum 
non  ibi  sed  in  suo  comitatu  omnem  rectitudinem  se 
exequi  debere  insisterent,  post  plurimam  dominus 
Gausfridus  controversiam  intulit :  "  Si  ergo  ut  asseritis 
non  nisi  in  vestro  comitatu  justitia?  subdimini  causis, 
nunquid  non  regise  asciti  curiae  conquesta  definire 
vetaretis  ?  "  "Nequaquam/"  inquiunt.  "  Ergo  pra?senti," 
inquit,  "  curia?,  quae  regis  extat,  hac  ratione  contraire 
nequibitis."  Qui  cum  vi  ratiocinatione  freti  renitentes 
demum  erumpere  conarentur,  protinus  basilica?  valvas 
jussit  obserari,  obtestans  singulos  regia?  majestati  ex- 
ponendos,  si  non  regise  exequerentur  jura  curia\ 
Cumque  viri  animositatem  regia?que  districtionis 
recogitassent  sequitatem,  tandem  pavidi  cessere  tiranni, 
et  se  illic  rectitudinem  facere  et  recipere  velle  profitentur. 
Tunc  domino  Gausfrido1  manerii  de  Wi  annullationem, 

1  "Dominus  Gausfridus,  MS.,"  says  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle. 


86  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

praepositumque  impotentem  vilKcationis  reddere  rationem 
exponente,  tandem  post  plurium  verborum  rotationem, 
reus  coram  communi  judicio  sistitur  Rotbertus.  Qui 
reatum  confitens  cum  veniam  flagitaret,  decern  argenti 
libris  decemque  frumenti  adjudicatus  modiis,  cum  gratia 
misericorditer  absolyitur.  Hoc  peracto,  et  domino 
Gausfrido  si  quid  erga  ipsum  querimoniae  prsesentes 
haberent  sciscitante,  cum  calumpnise  nil  a  quoquam 
referretur,  curia  soluta  est. 


[Abbot  Gausfrid  v.  The  King's  Collectors.   1102.] ' 

[A  ship  goes  ashore  at  Wye,  laden  with  royal  valuables.  The  king's 
collectors  come  to  seize  the  same  as  wreck.  Gausfrid  and  his 
men  oppose  this,  and  a  complaint  is  laid  before  the  king;  the 
result  being  in  favour  of  Gausfrid.] 

Srn  isdem  diebus  warec  contigitin  Dengemareis  membro 
de  TVi,  navem  videlicet  vegiis  ornamentis  et  operibus 
onustam  fluctibus  jactatam  cum  illic  appulisset  con- 
fringi.  Quam  cum  infra  statutum  terminum  pro  more 
reparare  nequissent,  regii  accessere  exactores,  navem 
cum  opibus  ut  regiam  pecuniam  vi  optinere  conantes. 
Domino  vero  Gausfrido  obnitente  cum  suis,  tandem 
coram  regiis  auribus  hac  ventilata  querimonia,  rex 
morem  servari  patrium  volens,  ecclesiamque  suam 
offendere  cavens,  jussit  quatinus  nee  de  sua  quidem 
pecunia  propria,  cujusquara  ecclesia  pateretur  injuriam, 
sed  quod  appulsum  fuerat  totum  ecclesiae  maneret. 

See  the  case  of  Arc  ■  of  Canterbury  ».  Abbot  of  Battel,  post, 

p.  1  13,  in  the  year  L139. 

1  Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,49  (Aug.  Chris.  Sue). 


HENRY    I.  S7 

[Monks  of  St.  Augustine.     1103.]  * 

[The    king's    writ   granting   a  right   of    fair   to   tho  monks  of  St. 
Augustine] 

Henmcus,  rex  Anglorum,  Anselmo  archiepiscopo  et 
Haimoni  viceoomiti  et  omnibus  baronibus  suis,  Francis 
et  Anglis,  totius  Anglise,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  dedisse 
et  concessisse  monachis  Sancti  Augustini  habere  feriam 
in  translatione  ipsius  sancti  apud  Cantorberiam,  qua) 
est  Idus  Septembris,  quinto  die  post  Natale  Sancta3 
Mariae,  et  duret  per  quinque  dies  ante  festum  ipsius 
sancti,  et  duos  post  festum.  Et  prseeipio  ut  omnes  ad 
earn  venientes,  et  in  ea  morantes,  et  ab  ea  redeuntes, 
habeant  firmam  pacem  meam :  et  nemo  eis  injuriam 
faciat,  nee  in  civitate  vel  extra  aliquis  tbeloneum  per 
hos  dies  capiat  nisi  monachi  et  servientes  eorum. 
Testibus  Turstino  capellano  et  Haimone  dapifero,  apud 
Londoniam,  Kal.  Septemb. 


[Men  of  Whistley  v.  Osatus.     1104  ?]2 

[The  king's  writ  discharging  the  plaintiffs  from  liability  to  the  de- 
fendant.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Willielmo  Osato,  salutem. 
Pra?cipio  tibi  ut  dimittas  in  pace  homines  abbatis  de 
Abbendona,  qui  sunt  in  Wisseleia,  quos  requiris,  quia  ego 
clamo  eos  quietos.  Teste  Rogero  Bigot;  apud  Win- 
dresores. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  358  (Itec.  Com.) 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  94  (Rec.  Coin  ^ 


88  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Men  of  St.  Augustine  v.  Citizens  of  Canter- 
bury.    1101.]  > 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  pledges  given  by  tho  plaintiffs  to  the 
defendants  to  be  restored.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglorum,  Haymoni  dapifero  et  minis- 
tris  suis,  salutcm.  Prsecipio  vobis  ut  cito  faciatis  reddi 
hominibus  Sancti  Augustini  vadimonia  ilia  qua'  ceperunt 
burgenses  de  Cantorberia  super  eos  propter  auxilium. 
Nolo  enim  ut  servientes  Sancti  Augustini,  qui  nee 
emunt,  nee  vendunt,  nee  mercatum  ducunt,  donent  hoc 
auxilium.  Unde  quicquid  propter  hoc  ab  eis  captum 
est  totum  cito  reddatur  eis.  Et  videte  ne  amplius  inde 
clamorem  audiam.  Teste  Waldrico  cancellario,  apud 
Wincestriam  in  Pascha. 


[Monks  of  St.  Augustine.     1103— 110G.]- 

[Tho  king's  writ  exempting   tho   monks   of   St.  Augustiue  from 
certain  toll.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglorum,  omnibus  vicecomitibus  et 
ministris  totius  Anglise,  salutem.  Prsecipio  ut  servientes 
Sancti  Augustini  sint  quieti  ab  omni  theloneo  in  omni- 
bus quae  poterant  affidare  se  emere  ad  dominicos  usus 
monachorum.  Et  defendo  ne  aliquis  eos  super  hoc 
dist  urbet.  Teste  Waldrico  cancellario,  apud  Westmonas- 
1  tri urn  in  Natale  Domini. 

1    Hist.  Won.  Si.  Aug.  35H(Rcc.  Com.).  -  lb.  362. 


HENRY    I.  89 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Men  of  Stanton.     1105 — 1107  ?]' 

[Writ  of  trespass  for  breaking  a  sluice.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Nigello  de  Oilli  et  Willielmo 
vicecomiti  de  Oxeneford,  salutem.  Prsecipio  vobis  ut 
facialis  abbati  de  Abbendona  plenariam  rectitudinem  de 
exclusa  sua  quam  homines  de  Estantona  fregerunt,  et  ita 
lie  amplius  inde  clamorem  audiam  pro  recti  penuria,  et 
hoc  super  X.  libras  forisfacturae.  Teste  Rannulfo  can- 
cellario  ;  apud  Westmonasterium. 

The  editor  of  the  Abingdon  Chronicle  suggests  the  year  1105  as 
the  date  of  this  and  the  following  writ ;  but  according  to  Foss  (Tab. 
Cur.  5),  Ramilf,  who  witnesses  the  above  writ  as  chancellor,  did  not 
become  chancellor  till  1107.  These  writs  are  worthy  of  notice  as  the 
prototype  of  the  writ  of  trespass  quare  clausum  /regit- 


[Same  Parties.     1105—1107?]- 

[Alias  writ  of  trespass.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Willielmo  vicecomiti  de  Oxene- 
ford, salutem.  Fac  cito  et  sine  mora  plenam  justitiam 
Faritio  abbati  de  hominibus  de  Stantona,  qui  fregerunt 
exclusam  suam,  et  ita  ne  inde  amplius  pro  recti  penuria 
clamorem  audiam,  super  X.  libras  forisfacturae.  Teste 
Eudone  dapifero  ;  apud  Corneberiam. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  92  (Rec.  Com.).  2  lb. 


90  PLACITA    AN0L0-X01JMAXXICA. 

[Abbot  of  Abixodox  v.  Goscelin.     1105  P]1 

[The  king's   writ   directing  the  defendant  to   suo  in  tbo  plaintiff's 
court  in  respect  of  certain  land.] 

HenricuSj  rex  Anglise,  Henrico  comiti  de  Warewic  et 
Willielmo  vicecomiti,  salutem.  Si  Goscelimis  quid 
clamaverit  in  terra  Sanctse  Marise  de  Abbendona,  quani 
habet  apud  Hyllam,  prsecipio  ut  ipse  Goscelimis  eat  in 
curiam  abbatis,  et  ipse  abbas  sit  ibi  ei  ad  rectum  j  et 
defendo  ipsi  abbati,  quod  non  respondeat  inde  Goscelino 
in  alio  loco.  Testibus  Waldrico  cancellario  et  Grim- 
baldo  medico;  apud  Westmonasterium,  in  Natal!  Do- 
mini. 


[Church  of  Rochester,     1104 — 1107.]  s 

[The  king's  writ  forbidding  strangers  from    fishing    at    a   certain 
place.] 

Hexricus,  rex  Ang-lorum,  Haimoni  dapifero,  et  Hug-oni 
de  Bochland,  salutem.  Prohibeo  ne  piscatores  piscant 
in  Tamisia  ante  piscaturam  de  Rouecestra  de  Niuuera. 
Et  si  ulterius  inveniuntur  piscantes,  sint  michi  foris 
facti.     Teste  Waldrico  cancellario  apud  Westmoster. 


1  2  Hist.  Mon,  Abingd.  93  (Rec.  Com.). 
:'  Eearne's  Textua  Roffensis,  171. 


HENRY    I.  91 

[Church   of    St.    Mary    of   Abingdon   v.   W.    de 

MONTEFICHET.       ABOUT    1106.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  protection  of  tho  cliurch  of  St.  Mary  in 
lands  at  Langley.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglia?,  W.  de  Montefichet,  salutem. 
Permitte  esse  in  pace  terram  de  Langeleia,  quam  regina 
Mathilda,  uxor  mea,  dedit  in  eleemosynam  Sancta) 
Marise  de  Abbendonia,  sicut  melius  umquam  fuit  in  pace 
tempore  antecessoris  tui,  et  quicquid  inde  super  hoc 
cepisti,  redde.  Et  nisi  feceris,  Willielmus  de  Bochelanda 
faciat  fieri,  ne  audiam  inde  clamorem  amplius  pro  penu- 
ria  recti  et  justitiae.  Teste  Nigello  de  Albini;  apud 
Walingeford. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Godric.     1106  ?]2 

[The   king's  writ   confirming   title  to  lands  at  Winkfield,  and   en- 
joining a  suit  by  Godric] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglian,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et 
Godrico,  et  baronibus  de  Berchescira,  Francis  et  Anglis, 
salutem.  Volo  et  prsecipio  ut  ecclesia  Sancta?  Marias  de 
Abbendona  habeat  et  teneat  terram  suam  de  Winkefelda, 
cum  omnibus  sibi  pertinentibus,  ita  bene,  et  honorifice, 
et  in  firma  pace,  sicut  melius  earn  tenuit  tempore  patris 
mei,  et  fratris  mei.  Et  prascipio  ut  calumnia  quam 
Godricus  propositus  de  Windresores  super  earn  terram 
faciat,  de  haia,  omniuo  et  perpetualiter  remaneat.  Testi- 
bus  Rogero  Bigod,  et  Grimbaldo  medico  ;  apud  Norham- 
tonam. 

'  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  77  (Eec.  Com.).  2  lb.  87. 


92  PLACITA    AXGLO-XORMAXXICA. 

[MONKS   OF    ABIXGDOX    V.    OFFICERS    OF    UllSO,    SHERIFF. 

1106  P]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  monks  of  Abingdon  bo  exempt 
from  duty  ou  salt.] 

Hexricus,  rex  Anglian  Ursoni  de  Wirecestra  vice- 
conriti,  salutem.  Prsecipio  tibi  ut  salem  monachorum 
de  Abbendonia  permittas  esse  ab  omui  thcloneo  et  con- 
suetudinibus  quietum ;  et  bene  prsecipias  tuis  ministris 
de  Wice  ue  supradictorum  monachorum  rebus  forisfaciat, 
et  ita  rie  amplius  clamorem  inde  audiam.  Teste  Hugone 
de  Bochelanda  ;  apud  Suttuuam. 


[Faritius  v.  Gotselin  de  Riparia.     1106.]- 

[Tho  king's  writ  ordering  the  defendant  to  perform  the  customary 
land  service  to  the  plaintiff,  on  penalty  of  levy.] 

Hexricus,  rex  Anglian  Gotselino  de  Riparia,  salutem. 
Prsecipio  ut  faciatis  Faritio  abbati  de  Abbendona  tale 
servitium  de  feudo,  quod  de  eo  et  de  abbatia  sua  tenes, 
quale  fratres  tui  fecerunt  antecessori  suo  A.  Quod  nisi 
feceritis,  ipse  abbas  inde  te  constringat  per  feuduni 
tuiim.  Teste  Roberto  filio  Ilamonis.  Per  TV.  de  la 
Roehella,  apud  Lundoniam. 

'  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  SS  (Hue.  Com.).  2  lb.  92. 


HENUY    I.  93 

[William  of  Jomieges  v.  Abbot  Faritius.     1106.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  defendant  to  return  certain  property 
to  the  plaintiff;  also  that  the  county  decide  concerning  certain 
houses,  and  that  the  abbot  act  his  pleasuro  concerning  land  given 
him  by  the  king's  writ.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  Hugoni  do  Bochelanda  et  Al- 
brico,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  volo  ut  Faritius  abbas  de 
Abbendona  reddat  Willielmo  Jemmeticensi  totam  pecu- 
niam  suam,  scilicet  in  annona  sicca  et  in  pecudibus,  quam 
apportavit  ad  terram  suam  de  terris  aliis.  De  domibus 
vero  et  annonis  viridis,  et  ceteris  aliis  rebus,  fiat  recti- 
tude- justo  judicio  comitatus.  De  terra  autem  ilia  faciat 
prsedictus  abbas  suam  voluntatem,  sicut  ei  per  breve 
meum  concessi,  et  nulli  inde  super  hoc  respondeat. 
Teste  Waldrico  cancellario  ;  apud  Brantonam. 


[Robert,  Son  of  Hervey,  v.  Robert  Geunun.  1106  ?]2 

[The  king's  writ  discharging  the  plaintiff  from  liability  to  the  de- 
fendant.] 

Henuicus,  rex  Angliae,  Roberto  Gernun,  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  ut  permittas  esse  ita  in  pace  Robertum 
filium  Hervei,  cum  tota  terra  sua  et  pecunia,  sicut  melius 
et  quietius  tenebat  earn  die  qua  dedisti  earn  terram 
regime,  et  ipsa  earn  terram  dedit  in  eleemosyna  ecclesise 
Sanctae  Maria?  de  Abbendona.  Et  vide  ne  inde  amplius 
clamorem  audiam.  Testibus  regina  et  Roberto  comite 
de  Mellent :  apud  Rochingeham. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  03  (Rec.  Com.).  2  lb.  i)V. 


94  pla.ctta  anglo-normannica. 

[The  King  v.   Robert  de  Monteforte.     1107.] ' 

[The  defendant  convicted  of  breaking  his  oath.] 

Anno  ab  incarnatione  Domini  MCVII.,  Henricus  rex 
proceres  suos  convocavit,  et  Etodbertum  de  Monteforti 
placitis  de  violata  fide  propulsavit.  Unde  idem,  quia 
reum  se  sensit,  licentiam  eundi  Ierusalem  accepit,  totain- 
que  terram  suam  regi  reliquit. 


[Abbot  of  Abingdon.     About  1107.] 2 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  the  church  at  Abingdon  from  toll,  pas- 
sage, and  customs.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  Warino  praeposito  Hamtone,  et 
ministris  suis,  salutem,  Prascipio  quod  victuset  vestitus 
abbatis  de  Abbendona,  et  quicquid  homines  ejus  poterint 
affidare  esse  suum  proprium,  sit  quietum  de  omni  the- 
lonco,  et  lestagio,  et  consuetudine,  et  passagioj  et  si 
quid  inde  captum  super  hoc  est,  eito  reddatur.  Teste 
W.  de  Tanc'.  Per  Willielmum  de  Calna  ;  apud  Windre- 
soram. 


[Abbot  Faritius.     About  1107.]  s 
Lag's  writ  commanding  restoration  of  fugitives.] 
Henrici  ' -,':'li;",  omnibus  vicecomitibus  el  minis- 

totius    Angliae,    in     quorum     baillia    fugitivi 

1  A  Onl.  Vital.  239     I  ist.  Soc). 

8  2  I  79  (llec.  Com.).  :!  li).  81. 


HENRY    I.  95 

abbatiae  dc  Abbendona  inventi  fuerint,  salutem.  PraB- 
eipio  vobis  quod  plene  et  juste  facialis  habere  abbati 
Abbendone  oimu's  fugitivos  suos,  cum  tota  pecunia  et 
catallo  suo,  ubicumque  ipsi  inventi  fuerint;  et  proliibeo 
ne  aliquis  eos  ei  vel  pecuniam  suam  super  hoc  injuste 
detineat,  super  X.  libris  forisfacturae.  Teste  cancellario  ; 
apud  Wdestocam. 


[Abbot  Faritius.     About  1107.] ' 

[A  like  writ.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglicc,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et 
Roberto  de  Ferrariis,  et  Willieltao  vieeeomiti  de  Oxene- 
ford,  et  Nicholao  de  Stafford,  salutem.  Proocipio  vobis 
nt  juste  et  sine  mora  faciatis  redire  ad  abbatiam  de 
Abbendona  omnes  fugitivos  suos,  et  cum  tota  pecunia 
sua,  ubicumque  sint,  et  ita  ne  hide  aniplius  clamorem 
audiam  pro  recti  penuria,  et  nominatim  hominem  qui  est 
in  terra  Roberti  de  Ferrariis,  et  cum  tota  pecunia  sua. 
Teste  Roberto  filio  Ricardi ;  apud  Walengeford. 


[Abbot  Faritius.     About  1107. ]a 

[Anotlicr  like  writ.] 

Hexricus,     rex    Augliae,     omnibus  vicecomitibus,    et 

ministris,   et    fidelibus    suis;  Francis  et   Anglis,  totius 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  81  (Rec.  Coin.).  2  lb.  82. 


96  PLA.CITA    ANGLO-NORM  \N\ICA. 

Angliae,  salutem.  Praecipio  vobis  nt  sine  aliqua  mora 
faciatis  habere  Faritio  abbati  de  Abbendona  omnes 
homines  suos,  qui  de  terra  sua  exierunt  de  Walingeford 
propter  herberiam  curiae  meae,  vel  propter  alias  res,  et 
cum  omni  pecunia  sua,  ubicumque  sint.  Teste  Rogcro 
Piger,  per  A  return  falconarium ;  apud  Westmuster. 


[Church  of  St.  Mary  of  Abingdon.     About  1108.]1 

[The  king's  writ  in  favour  of  the  church  at  Abingdon  as  to  certain 

land.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  ut  sine  mora  facias  habere  ecclesiae  Sanctae 
Mariae  de  Abbendonia  terram  quam  Rannulfus  episeopus 
dedit  Roberto  de  Calzmont,  si  ilia  terra  est  de  dominio 
praedictae  ecclesiae.  Quia  nolo  ut  ecclesia  quiequam  per- 
dat  quod  habere  debeat.  TestibusW.  cancellario,  et  R. 
filio  Haimonis ;  apud  Westmuster. 


[Abbot  Farttius  v.  Ared  et  al.     About  1108.]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  plaintiff  bo  permitted  to  take 
a  way  wood.] 

Heneicus,  rex  Angliae,  Ared  falconarioj  et  omnibus 
forestariis  suis,  salutem.  Volo  et  praecipio  ut  omnia  ligna 
et  virgus,  quae  fuerint  data,  vel  vendita,  hominibus 
abbatis  Faritii  de  Abbendona  ad  opus  suorum  operum, 
sine  omni  impedimento  et  disturbatione  possint  ea  con- 
due*  re  in  pace  quocunque  voluerint.  Teste  Rogero  Bigod; 
apud  Wincestram. 

i  2  lli.-t.  Mon.  Abingd,  83  (Rec.  Com.).  »   II,.  7s. 


HENRY    1.  97 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Robert  Maledoit.     1108  ?]1 

[The  king's  writ  ordering  the  defendant  to  perform  the  customary 
land  service  to  the  plaintiff ;  in  case  of  failure,  the  plaintiff  to 
act  his  pleasure  in  respect  of  the  land.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglice,  Roberto  Maledocto,  salute  m 
Prsecipio  tibi  ut  abbati  Faritio  facias  servitium  terra? 
quam  tenes,  sicut  tui  antecessores  fecerunt  tempore 
Adelelmi  abbatis.  Et  nisi  feceris,  tunc  prsecipio  ut 
abbas  praedictus  de  terra  sua,  quam  tenes,  suam  volun- 
tatem  faciat.  Teste  Ricardo  de  Retveres ;  apud  Becce- 
leam. 


[Abbot  of  Abingdon.    1108?]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  respect  to  the   plaintiff's   right    to   the 
hundred  of  Hornmere,  and  to  the  trial  of  a  certain  cause.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et  jus- 
ticiars suis,  et  omnibus  baronibus  suis,  Francis  et 
Anglis,  de  Berchescira,  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  abbas 
de  Abbendona  habeat  hundredum  suum  de  Hornimera 
bene,  et  in  pace,  et  honorifice,  sicut  unquam  antecessores 
sui  melius  habuerunt  tempore  patris  mei,  et  fratris  mei, 
et  meo,  et  nominatim  placitum  de  equa  unde  Osbertus 
calumniatus  fuit.     Teste  cancellario  :  apud  Wintoniam. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  91  (Eec.  Com.)  2  lb.  115. 


98  PLA.CITA    ANGLO-NOUMANNICA. 

[Abbot  Hugh  r.  Canons  of  St.  Martin.  1107 — 1109.]' 

[Writ  of  tho  king  confirming  a  recovery  by  the  plaintiff  of  the  right 
to  a  prebend  at  St.  Martin's  of  Dover.] 

Henmcus,    rex    Anglorum,   Anselmo   archiepiscopo,  et 

conventui  canonicorum   Sancti    Martini   de  Dovera,  et 

Haimoni  dapifero,  et  barouibus  suis  et  fidelibus,  Francis 

et  Anglis,  de  Kent,  salutem.     Sciatis  quod  abbas  Hugo 

Sancti    Augustini     Cantorberice,    per   dirationamentum 

regni  mei  et  curia),  habet  prrcbendam  unam  de  me  in 

ecclesia  Sancti  Martini  de  Dovera,  sicut  antecessores  sui 

habuerunt  de  anteccssoribus  meis.     Et  volo  et  proceipio, 

ut  ipse  ita  plene  earn  habeat  et  ita  deserving  per  unum 

canonieum  in  ecclesia  Sancti  Martini,  sicut  antecessores 

sui  plenius   et   melius   habuerunt   et  deservierunt.     Et 

quicquid  inde    captum  est  postquam  ipse   Hugo  abbas 

fuit,  totum  ei  reddatur.     Quod  nisi  ita  factum  fuerit,  tu, 

Hainio,    justifica    inde    adversaries.      Testibus   Rogero 

episcopo  et  Willelmo  Exoniae  episcopo,  apud  Westmonas- 

terium  in  Pentecost. 

The  prelates  who  witness  this  writ  were  consecrated  in  1107,  and 
Anselm,  to  whom  it  is  directed,  died  in  1109.  In  the  Chronicle  of  St. 
Augustine  the  date  of  the  writ  is  incorrectly  given  as  in  1101. 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Men  of  Farnham.     1108  ?]2 

[The  king's  writ  of  trespass  for  the  carrying  away  of  grass.] 
IIknricus,  rex  Angliae,  Rogero  episcopo  Salesberise, 
salutem.  Mando  tibi  quod  plenum  rectum  teneas  abbati 
de  Abbendonia  do  hominibus  meis  de  Fernham  de  fceno 
suo,  quod  vi  ceperunt  de  prato  suo.  Teste  G.  filio 
1  'ii i_;n 1 1 i  ;  apud  AVdestoc. 

Obs<  n  e  here  a  prototype  of  trespass  vi  et  armis. 

1  lli-t.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  357  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd    -  I  I  Etec.  Com.). 


HENRY   I.  99 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Jordan  de  Sackville.     1108?]1 

[The  king's  writ  as  to  disseisin  of  lands.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Jordano  de  Saccevilla,  salutem. 
Prsecipio  tibi  ut  plenum  rectum  facias  Faritio  abbati  et 
ecclesia3  de  Abbendonia  de  terra  quam  abstulisti  eis, 
quam  Radulfus  de  Cainesham  dedit  ecclesise  in  eleemosy  na; 
et  nisi  sine  mora  feceris,  praecipio  quod  Walterus  Giffardus 
faciat,  et  si  ipse  non  fecerit,  Hugo  de  Bochelanda  faciat, 
ne  inde  clamorem  audiam  pro  recti  penuria.  Teste 
Goisfrido  de  Magnavilla,  apud  Wodestoc. 

Observe  in  this  and  the  following  writ  a  prototype  of  the  fixed  writ 
of  right  of  Glanvill.     Lib.  12,  c.  3. 


[Same   Parties.     1109  ?] 2 

[The  king's  second  writ  concerning  the  same  lands,  Jordan  having 
failed  to  do  justice  to  Faritius.] 

Henricus,  rex  Ang-liae,  Waltero  Giffardo,  et  Agneti 
matri  suae,  salutem.  Prsecipio  ut  teneatis  plenum  rectum 
Faritio  abbati  de  Abbendonia  de  terra,  quam  Radulfus 
Kauresbam  posuit  ad  Abbendonam  vestra  concessione,  et 
unde  ecclesia  fuit  saisita ;  et  ita  facite,  ne  inde  clamorem 
audiam  pro  recti  penuria.  Teste  Rannulfo  cancellario  ; 
apud  Windresores. 


[Men  of  Periton  v.  Abbot  Faritius.    About  1109.] 3 

[The   abbot   of  Abingdon   recovers    judgment    in    the    Exchequer, 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  85  (Rec.  Com.).  2  lb.  3  lb.  115. 

H    2 


100  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

before  certain  bishops  and  many  barons,  as   to  the  manor  of 
Lewknor ;  the  queen  by  her  writ  attesting  the  fact.] 

Homines  de  hundredo  Peritune  inoliebantur  manerium 
hujus  ecclesiae,  Lcueeenore  appellatum,suojuri  mancipai*e; 
sed  is  abbas  in  castello  Wincestre,  coram  episeopis  Rogero 
Saresberiensi,  et  Roberto  Lincolniensi,  et  Ricardo  Lun- 
doniensi,  et  multis  regis  baronibus,  ratiocinando  ostendit 
declamationem  coram  injustam  esse.  Quare  justiciario- 
riim  regis  judicio  obtinuit,  ut  illud  manerium  nulli  alteri 
lumdredo  nisi  proprio  debeat  in  aliquo  fieri  obnoxium. 
Sed  quia  rex  tunc  in  Normannia  crat,  regina,  qua1  tunc 
prtesens  aderat,  taliter  hoc  sigillo  suo  coniirmavit : 

Mathildis,  Anglise  regina,  Roberto  episcopo  Lincolni- 
ensi, et  Thomas  de  Sancto  Johanne,  et  omnibus  baronibus, 
Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Oxenefordscira,  salutem.  Sciatis 
quod  Faritius  abbas  de  Abbendona  in  curia  domini 
mei  et  mea  apud  Wintoniam,  in  thesauro,1  ante 
Rogerum  episcopum  Salesberiensem,  et  Robertum 
episcopum  Lincolniensem,  et  Richardum  episcopum 
Lundonienseni,  et  Willielmum  de  Curceio,  et  Adam 
de  Porto,  et  Turstinum  eapellannm,  et  Walterum  de 
Gloecestria,  et  Herbertum  camerarium,  et  Willielmum  de 
Oileio,  et  Goisfredum  filium  Herberti,  et  Willielmum  de 
Enesi,  et  Radulf'um  Basset,  et  Goisfredum  de  Magnavilla, 
et  Goisfredum  Ridel,  et  Walterum  archidiaconum  de 
Oxcneford,  et  per  Librum  de  Thesauro2  disratiocinavit 
quod  Leuecanora  manerium  suum  nihil  omnino  debet  in 
hundredo  de  Perituna  facere ;  sed  omnia  quae  debet  facere, 
tantummodo  in  hundredo  Leuacanora  facere  debet,  in 
quo  hundredo  habct  ccclesia  de  Abbendona  X.  et  VII. 
hidas.  Testibus  Rogero  episcopo  Salcsbericnsi,  et  Wil- 
lielmo  de  Curci,  et  Adam  de  Porto;  apud  Wiiuestriam. 

1  Exchequer.     Bee  post,  p.  127.  2  Doomsday, 


HENRY  I.  101 

[Abbot  Fabitius  v.  Men  of  Sutton.     1109 — 1110.] l 

[The  plaintiff  obtains  judgment  in  favour  of  the  abbey  of  Abingdon 
as  to  customs  claimed  by  the  defendants  in  an  action  for  trespass 
to  land,  tried  beforo  the  sheriff  of  Berkshire.] 

Anno  dccimo  regni  Henrici  regis,  apud  Suttunam  resi- 
dente  plenarie  scira,  et  rnaxime  pro  causa  qua?  sequitur, 
disrationavit  domuus  abbas  Faritius,  et  monacbi  de 
Abbendona,  terrain  de  Culeham  solidam  et  quietam  de 
omnibus  consuetudinibus,  et  de  omnibus  hominibus,  ad 
opus  eccelesiae  Abbendonensis,  et  maxime  de  quadam 
violentia,  quam  homines  de  supradicto  manerio  Suttune 
inferebant  illi  terrse,  scilicet  in  accipiendis  glebis  illius 
terrse  ad  opus  molendini  etpiscariae  regis.  Unde, — sicut 
antecessor  illius,  Adelelmus  abbas,  tempore  Willelmi 
senioris  regis,  et  tempore  Frogerii  vicecomitis,  terram 
supradictae  villae  Culeham  a  tali  violentia  quietavit, — sic 
et  iste  abbas  Faritius,  eo  die  et  eo  tempore,  quo  supra- 
dictum  est,  quietavit  earn  a  supradicta  violentia  et 
omnibus  consuetudinibus,  in  praesentia  Hugonis2  vice- 
comitis, probi  et  sapientis  viri,  qui  non  solum  Berchescirae, 
sed  etiam  aliis  VII.  sciris  prseerat  vicecomes,  adeo  erat 
nominatus  vir  et  carus  regi,  et  in  prsesentia  multorum 
hominum  trium  scirarum  ibi  assistensium. 

[The  offence  secretly  renewed,  and  judgment  therefor  again  ob- 
tained.] 

Post  istam  disratiocinationem,  cum  in  eorum  non 
fuisset  ausu  hominum  quod  pridem  egerant  jam  publico 
in  conspectu  iterare,  clanculo  id  repetunt.  De  qua  re  cum 
certi  nuntii  relatio  abbati  esset  perlata,  vicecomitatum 
tunc  Berchescirae  regenti,  Hugoni  de  Bochelande,  eandem 
retulit,  cujus  et  jussu  in  hundredo  ipsi  Suttuna?,  praedictae 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  117  (Roc.  Coin.)-  s  de  Bocland. 


102  PLACITA    ANOLO-NORMANNICA. 

regis  villa;  adjacent!,  rectum  de  hac  in j  ustitia  ecclesiae  et 
abbati  per  judicium  ejusdem  hundredi  hujusmodi  per- 
solutum  fuit. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Gamel.]1 

[A  similar  caso  to  that  above  reported,  with  judgment  in  favour  of 
the  plaintiff  by  the  justiciars  of  the  hundred.] 

Erat  eo  tempore  molendinarius  molendini,  quod  situm 
est  super  flumen  Tamisiae,  ad  orientalem  partem  praedictse 
villas  regis,  nomine  Gamel,  qui  horis,  ex  altera  parte 
fluminis,  de  terra  villas  Culeham  pertinenti,  glebas  clam 
effodiens  pro  reficiendo  molendino,  nocturnis,  cujus  curam 
habebat,  exportare  solebat.  Et  cum  de  hac  sua  temeritate 
in  hundredo  ipso  interpellatus  negare  nequivisset,  et  pro 
hoc  jure  legis  subactus  esset,  decreverunt  justiciarii 
hundredi  debere  cum  abbati  et  ecclesia?  emendationem  V. 
mancusarum  denariorum  exsolvere.     Quod  et  fecit. 


[Cellarer  of  Abingdon  v.  Master  of  a  Ship. 
1110— llll.]3 

[Judgment  obtained  by  the  plaintiff  in  favour  of  customs  con- 
cerning vessels,  on  writs  directed  to  the  king's  justiciars  and 
sheriffs  of  Berkshire  and  Oxford,  the  trial  taking  place  in  the 
house  of  a  priest.] 

Consi  in  do  hnjus  ecclesiae  esl  a  tempore  domni  Ordrici 
abbatis,  ui  de  unaquaque  navi  Oxeneforde  civitatis,  qua? 

i  2  Hist.  Won.   Mbingd,  lis  i  Rec  Com  ).  2  lb.  119. 


HENRY    I.  108 

transitum  fecerit  per  aquam  Tamisise  prope  curiam 
Abbendonensem,  versus  australem  scilicet  partem  difllu- 
entem,  cellerario  ceutum  allecia  omui  anno  more  debito 
reddantur,  aut  pro  eis  condig-num  pretium,  ita  ut  navium 
remiges  non  interrogati  eadem  cellerario  deferant,  a 
tempore  videlicet  Purificationis  Sancta?  Maria?  usque  ad 
Pascha.  Quod  si  eorum  aliquis  banc  consuetudinem  de- 
tinuisse  inventus  fuerit,  hujusmodi  navem  cellerarius,  ne 
per  aquam  transeat  ecclesise,  jure  detinet,  donee  sibi 
rectum  faciat. 

Hanc  ecclesire  consuetudinem,  tempore  domni  Faritii 
abbatisj  nautae  prsedictse  civitatis  moliti  sunt  ecclesias 
abripere;  sed  cito  eos  ab  liac  temeritate  disratiocinatioue 
justa  idem  abbas  repressit,  ita  ut  eadem  regi  Henrico 
allegaret,  et  rex  per  sua  brevia  justiciariis  suis  et  vice- 
comitibus  Bercbescire  et  Oxenefordscire  praeciperet,  qua- 
tenus  rectam  justitiam  inde  facerent,  ne  ecclesia  ultra 
hujusmodi  consuetudine  sua  careret.  Itaque,  eodem 
rege  regnante,  anno  imperii  sui  XI.  et  Thoma  de  Sancto 
Johanne  ac  Ricardo  de  Monte  Oxenefordscire  vice- 
comitibus  constitutis,  apud  eandem  Oxeneforde  civitatem, 
in  domo  Hardingi  presbyteri,  de  hac  re  placitum  habitum 
est,  et  majorum  ejusdem  loci  communi  judicatum  est 
decreto  Abbendunensem  ecclesiam  justam  rem  exigere, 
et  earn  a  civitatis  totius  navigio  debere  omni  anno 
persolvere.1 

[In  the  following  year  there  was  a  like  case,  with  a  similar  result.] 

Sequenti  quoque  post  hoc  anno  Radulfus  cellerarius 

ejusdem,    coadunatis    Oxeneforde    primoribus,    questus 

est   quod   de    quibusdam    eorum    nautis    necdum    jam 

decretam  consuetudinem  habuisset.     Quibus  illico  accer- 

1  persolvi  ? 


104  PLACITA    AXGLO-NOIIMANNICA. 

sitis,  prsecipitur  navibus  ejusdem  cellerarii  debitum 
eidem  ecclesiae  coram  reddere.  Et  ita  factum  est,  cunctis 
qui  aderant  testibus.  Ad  banc  disrationtionem  fueruiit 
In  praesentes,  Ricardus  de  Monte,  tunc  vicecomes, 
Walterus  archidiaconus,  et  multi  alii. 


[Abbot  Faeitius  v.  Adelelm  of  K.  and  Robert 
of  B.     1110  P]1 

[The  plaintiff  obtains  judgment  in  favour  of  the  church  at  Abingdon 
for  dues  claimed  from  tho  church  at  Kingston  ;  judgment  being 
given  a  priynis  senioribus."] 

Ecclesia  de  Kingestona  subest  parocbiali  ecclesia?  de 
Uurthe,  et  hoc  ab  antiquo  jure.  Iccirco  cum  ecclesia 
ipsa  de  Kingestuna  dedicaretur  cum  ccemeterio  per 
domnum  Osmundum  episcopum,  duo  ex  monachis 
nostris,  Alfricus  scilicet  quondam  prior,  et  Modbertus, 
illic  caeterorum  fratrum  loco  consistens,  episcopo  calum- 
niati  sunt  consuetudines  matris  ecclesia?;  qua?  est 
apud  Wrtham.  Quo  tempore  Rainaldus  prseerat  ec- 
clesiae abbalis  regirnine.  Itaque  bujuscemodi  imposita 
calumnia,  postea  a  primis  prsedictse  villa?  senioribus 
consul  turn  est,  videlicet  Radulfo  de  Bakepuz  et  Adelelmo, 
quatenus  annuatim  ecclesia?  Abbendoniae  ad  Pentecosten 
ab  eis  utrisque  donarentur  XVI.  denarii,  id  est,  duae 
orai,  et  ad  ccclesiam  de  Uurtha  similiter  a  singulis 
I.  acra,  I.  porous,  et  I.  caseus.  Scd  mortuo  Radulfo, 
cum  ejus  filius  Henricus  sibi  succederet,  praedictam 
persolvere  pactionem  neglexit.  Verum  eo,  tempore 
non  multo  post,  improvisa  morte  sublato  ex  bac  vita, 

1  2  HiBt.  Moii.  Abingd.  120  (Heo.  Com.). 


HENRY    I.  105 

frater  ejus  Robertus  heres  illi  factus  est  suarum  rerum. 
Qui  tempore  Quadragesimali  Abbendoniam  veniens, 
regnante  tunc  Henrico  reg-e,  et  domno  Faritio  existente 
abbate,  promisit  coram  multis  testibus  ab  illo  deinceps 
se  redditurum  prscdictam  pactionem. 

[The  writ  to  Robert  and  Adelelm.] 

Rogerus,  episcopus  Saresberise,  Adelelmo  de  King-es- 
tuna  et  Roberto  de  Bachepuz,  salutem.  Prsecipio  vobis 
quod  reddatis  ecclesia3  de  Abbendona  rectitudines,  quas 
illi  debetis  de  ecclesia  vestra  de  Kingstuna.  Et  nisi 
feceritis,  Ilbertus  decanus  interdicat  divinum  officium 
apud  Kingestuna.     Apud  Westmonasterium. 


[Church  of  St.  Mary  of  Abingdon.     About  1110.]' 

[The  king's  writ  forbidding  all  persons  from  disturbing  the  church 
of  St.  Mary  in  carriage  by  land  or  by  water.] 

Henricus,  rex  Ang-liae,  baronibus  suis,  et  vicecomitibus 
et  miuistris  suis,  salutem.  Prohibeo  ne  aliquis  disturbet 
ullo  modo  carreiam  Sanctee  Maria?  de  Abbendona,  nee 
aliquid  aliud  quod  sit  dominicum  abbatis,  vel  mona- 
cborum  ejus,  vel  per  terram,  vel  per  aquam  disturbet ; 
sed  in  pace  eat  et  redeat  quicumque  rem  suam,  sive 
victum  sive  aliquod  aliud,  quod  ad  opus  ecclesia?  pertineat, 
conduxerit.  Teste  Willielmo  cancellario ;  apud  Lun- 
doniam. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  78  (Rec.  Com.). 


106  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Monks  of  Abingdon.     About  1110.] ' 

[The  king's  writ  discharging  the  monks  of  Abingdon  from  toll,  pas- 
sage, and  customs.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglia?,  omnibus  vicecomitibus  ct  prse- 
positis,  et  omnibus  ministris  suis  totius  Angliae  et 
portuum  maris,  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  omnia,  quae 
ministri  monachorum  de  Abbendona  cmerint  ad  victum 
et  vestitum,  et  utensilia  monachorum,  in  civitatibus  et 
burgis,  et  omnibus  aliis  mercatis  Angliae,  sint  quieta  de 
theloneo  et  passagio,  et  omni  consuetudine,  undo  homines 
sui  affidare  poterint  suas  esse  dominicas ;  et  nullus  eos 
vel  res  illas  inquietet,  vel  in  juste  disturbet,  super 
X.  libris  forisfacturae.  Testibus  cancellario  et  Milone 
de  Gloecestria  ;  apud  Abbendoniam. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Abingdon.     About  1110.]- 

[A  similar  writ.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Ilugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et 
omnibus  vicecomitibus  et  ministris  totius  Anglic, 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  omnes  res  propria1  abbatis  et 
monachorum  de  Abbendona,  quod  ministri  sui  vendide- 
rint  et  cmerint,  sint  quietse  de  tholoneo,  et  consuetudine, 
et  passagio,  trade  homines  sui  affidare  poterint  quod  suae 
sint ;  et  prohibeo  ne  aliquis  eos  disturbet,  super 
X.  libris  forisfacturae.  Teste  cancellario ;  apud  Merle- 
beriam. 

1   2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  78  (Roc.  Com  -  ll>.  7!). 


HENRY    1.  107 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Richard  de  Monte  et  al.    1110  ?]' 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  that  the  plaintiff  hold  in  peace  certain 
land  in  Garsington,  answerable  to  no  one.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  Ricardo  de  Monte,  et  omnibus 
baronibus,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Oxenefordscira,  salu- 
tem.  Sciatis  quia  volo  et  praecipio  ut  abbas  Faritius 
et  abbatia  de  Abbendona,  in  pace  et  sine  calumnia 
omnium  hominum,  teneant  terram  in  Gersendona,  quam 
Perchehaia  tenebat,  et  nulli  inde  respondeant ;  et 
ita  bene  teneant  sicut  abbatia  tenuit  tempore  patris  et 
fratris  mei,  et  meo.  Testibus  Johanne  episcopo  Luxovii, 
et  Gilleberto  filio  Ricardi ;  apud  Windresores. 


[Liberties  of  Abingdon.     1110  ?]2 

[The  king's  writ  to  the  abbot  of  St.  Mary  of  Abingdon   confirming 
his  right  to  try  robbers.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et 
Albrico,  et  omnibus  baronibus,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de 
Berchesira,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse  Faritio 
abbati  Sanctse  Marias  de  Abbendona,  ut  ipse  faciat 
justitiam  suam  de  presbytero  latrone,  qui  in  captione 
sua  in  Abbendona  est,  et  de  aliis  latronibus  suis  faciat 
justitiam  suam  similiter,  vidente  comitatu.  Teste  Rogero 
Bigod.     Per  Walterum  Hosatum ;  apud  Bruhellam. 

»  2  Hist.  Hon.  Abingd.  8!)  (Kec.  Com.).  2  lb.  90. 


108  placita  axglo-xormaxxica. 

[Abbot  Hugh  v.  Maxasser  Arsic.     1110.]1 

[Tlie  king's  writ  confirming  a  judgment  of  the  plaintiff  for  the  re- 
covery of  certain  lands.] 

Hexricus,  rex  Anglorum,  arehiepiscopis,  episcopis, 
comitibus,  viceconiitibus,  baronibus,  et  omnibus  fidelibus 
suis,  Francigenis  et  Angligenis,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod 
Hugo  abbas  Sancti  Augustini  Cantuarise  dirationavit  in 
curia  mea  terras  suas  de  Ripple  et  Langedone,  cum 
omnibus  illis  pertinentibus  contra  Manasserum  Arsic. 
Et  volo  et  concedo  et  firmiter  prsecipio,  ut  a  modo  in 
perpetuum  in  dominio  ecclesia?  eas  teneat,  ita  bene  et 
honorifice  sicut  ipse  abbas  Hugo  melius  et  bonorabilius 
et  quietius  tenet  suas  alias  dominicas  terras.  Testibus 
episcopo  Lincolnise,  et  comite  de  Mell.,  apud  Windesoram 
in  Pentecoste,  in  anno  quo  rex  dedit  flliam  suam 
imperatori.  Hoc  dirationatum  fuit  apud  Londoniam  in 
Rogation  ibus. 


[Abbot  Faritius.     llll.]2 

[The  king's  writ  in  favour  of  tho  abbot  concerning  a  hido  of  land, 
which  Faritius  is  to  hold  in  peace  ;  and  if  disseised  thereof,  he  is 
to  have  possession  again,  as  well  as  of  anything  taken  away.] 

Hexricus,  rex  Anglia^  R.  vicecomiti  de  Oxeneforda, 
et  Rainero  de  Batlia,  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  Faritius 
abbas  Abbandone  ita  bene  et  quiete  teneat  hidam  terrae 
de  Fencote,  quam  tenuit  de  Adelina  de  Iuri,  cum 
omnibus  rebus  quae  ad  cam  pertinent,  sicut  melius  et 

i   Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  302  (Roc.  Com.). 
2  2  Hist.  Mon.  A.bingd.  73  |  Rec.  Com.). 


IIKXRY    I.  109 

quietius  tenuit,  et  si  inde  dissaisitus  est,  resaisiatur,  et 
bene  [et  in  pace  teneat;  et  si  quid  inde  captum  est, 
cito  inde  similiter  resaisiatur ;  et  inibi  faciat  quod 
juste  facere  debet.  Teste  Nig-ello  de  Albinni  :  apud 
AVincestriam. 


[Abbot  Faritius.     About  llll.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  protection  of  Faritius  in  lands   at 
Welgrave.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Roberto  et  Aluredo,  ministris 
comitis  de  Mellent,  de  Wellegrave,  salutem.  Praecipio 
vobis  ut  custodiatis  omnes  terras  abbatis  de  Abbendona, 
qua3  circa  vos  sunt,  et  ne  patiamini  ut  aliquis  per  vos, 
sive  per  alium,  quicquam  in  eis  forisfaceat ;  et  ad 
minus  volo  et  praecipio,  ut  ipse  ita  bene,  et  quiete,  et 
libere  teneat  praedictas  terras,  sicuti  erant  solutae,  et 
liberae,  et  quietae  quando  manerium  de  Uuellegrava  erat 
in  manu  mea;  et  homines  sui  sint  in  pace  et  sine 
calumnia.  Testibus  Rannulfo  cancellario  et  Johanne  de 
Baiocis  ;  apud  Niuueberiam. 


[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Hugh,  Son  of  Turstin.     llll?]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  plaintiff  to  do  justice  upon  the  defen- 
dant, if  the  latter  fail  to  do  the  service  pertaining  to  his  land.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Faritio  abbati  de  Abbendon 
salutem.  Si  Hugo  filius  Turstini  noluerit  facere  servi- 
tium    quod    terrae    suae    tibi    pertinet,     in    operatione 

i  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  77  (Rec.  Com.).  2  lb.  90. 


110  PLACITA    AXGLO-XOR.UANNICA. 

parcorum  et  pontium,  et  de  omnibus  aliis  rebus,  tunc 
praecipio  ut  tu  ipse  hide  justitiam  facias,  ut  omnia,  quae 
facere  debet,  faciat.  Teste  cancellario ;  apud  Pontem 
Arcarum. 


[The  King  v.  Hugh,  Son  of  Turstin.     1111  ?]a 

[The  king's  writ  ordering  payment  of  money  dues  to  be  made  by  tbo 
defendant,  on  penalty  of  distraint.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  filio  Turstini,  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  ut  ita  geldas  cum  Faritio  abbate  de 
Abbendona,  sicut  geldare  solebas,  et  ita  ne  amodo  terra 
sua  sit  esnamiata  pro  terra  tua  super  X.  libras  foris- 
facturam  meam.  Quod  nisi  cito  feceris,  Albricus  de 
Berchescira  te  constringat  per  pecuniam  tuam  ut  cito 
facias,  et  ita  ne  inde  amplius  clamorem  audiam,  super 
X.  libras  forisfacturee.  Teste  Roberto  episcopo  Lincolniae; 
apud  AVlfruneliamtune. 


[Abbot  op  St.  Augustine  v.  Archdeacon  op 
Canterbury.     1113.]- 

[The  king's  writ  directing  a  trial  as  to  the  rights  of  tho  parties  in 
respect  of  customs  of  priests  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Augustine.] 

Henbictjs,  vex  Auglorum,  Radulpho  Roffensi  episcopo, 

>  2  HiBt.  Mon.  Abingd.  91  (Rcc.  Com.). 
2  ii.        [on.  SI     '.<-<  861  (Rec  Com.). 


HENRY    I.  HI 


salutem.  Tcne  plenum  rectum  inter  abbatem  de  Sancto 
Auo-ustino  et  inter  archidiaconum  de  Cantuaria,  de 
sacerdotibus  abbatise  Sancti  Augustini ;  ut  abbas  ita 
juste  habeat  consuetudines  suas  de  presbyteris  suis, 
sicut  Scollandus  abbas  melius  habuit.  Teste  Haimone 
dapifero,  apud  Westmonasterium. 


[Abbey  of  Abingdon.     1116  ?]' 

[Tho  king's  writ  commanding  that  the  abbey  be  put  again  in  seisin 
of  certain  lands.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  salu- 
tem. Prsecipio  tibi  ut  eas  Abbendonam,  et  de  omnibus 
terris  quas  Modbertus  dedit  vel  prsestitit,  vel  emit  ab 
aliquo  et  dedit  alii,  resaisias  eeclesiam,  et  juste  facias 
habere  sicut  de  Herberto  camerario,  et  Warino  calvo,  et 
Turstino,  et  Hugone,  et  omnibus  aliis,  ita  ne  amplius 
inde  pro  recti  penuria  audiam  clamorem.  Testibus 
Willielmo  cancellario  et  Rogero  capellano;  apud 
Lundoniam. 


[Robert  Malart  v.  Bricstan.     1116.]  - 

[Bricstan,  a  man  of  some  means,  having  applied  for  admission  into  the 
order  of  monks  at  Thorney  Abbey,  the  fact  comes  to  the  ears  of 
Robert  Malart,  with  the  following  result :  viz.,  Malart  accuses 
him  before  the  monks  of  crimes  j  he  is  brought  to  trial  before 
Ealph  Basset  (the  justiciar) ,  and  abbots,  clerks,  and  monks,  and 
is  convicted.] 

Audito,    ut    diximus,    rumore   praedicti  viri  religionis 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  86  (Rec.  Com.). 
3  3  Ord.  Vital.  125  (French  Hist.  Soc). 


112  PLACITA    AX(ii,(>-XOi;MAX\H  A. 

habitum  arripere  cupientis,  magistri  sui  doctrinam,  qui 
semper  mentitur  aut  decipit,  secutus,  advenit  ille  Bod- 
bertus.  Qui  dicturus  mendacium,  a  raeudacio  incipiens, 
ait  nobis  :  "  Hunc  hominem  :  Bricstan  scilicet,  furem 
esse,  pecuniam  regis  propriam  in  latrocinio  habere, 
celare,  ct  ut  criminis  hujus  judicium  et  pcenam  evadere 
valeat,  non  causa  ulterius  salutis  monachatum  quserere 
sciatis.  Ipse  namquc  thesaurum  occultum  invenit,  ex 
quo  furtim  sublato  fanerator  efFectus  est.  Tantorum 
itaque  reus  criminum  latrocinii  videlicet  et  usurae,  prae- 
sentiae  regis  vel  judicum  metuit  assistere.  Quapropter 
hue  ad  vos  ex  regis  imperio  missus,  interdico  ne  ilium 
in  vestro  collegio  audeatis  suscipere."  Nos  autem, 
audita  regis  defensione,  timentes  iram  ejus  incurrere, 
noluimus  hunc  hominem  cestui  nostro  conjungere. 
Quid  plura  ?  Sub  fklejussoribus  missus,  ducitur  ad 
judicium.  Radulfo  autem  Basso  sedente  pro  tribunali, 
congregatis  etiam  provincialibus  universis  apud  Hunte- 
doniam  (ut  mos  est  in  Anglia1),  ego  ipse  Ilerveus,  cum 
abbatibus  Rainaldo  Ramesiensi,  et  Rodberto  Tornensi, 
necnon  clericis  pluribus  et  monachis  interfui.  Et  ne  vos 
longius  protraham,  accusatus  ille  cum  uxore  pra3sen- 
tatur  ;  crimena  sibi  falso  imposita  renovantur.  Ille  non 
acta  negabat,  quod  non  fecerat  eonfiteri  nequibat.  E 
contra,  de  mendacio  arguitur,  deridetur;  erat  enim 
aliquantulum  corpulentus,  mediocris  persona?,  et  hones- 
tarn  (ut  ita  dicam)  cheriem  habebat.  Post  multas  vero 
Lllatas  sibi  sine  merito  contumelias,  velut  Susannam 
praL'judicaverunt  ipsum,  cum  omni  omnino  possessione 
ditioni  reg-is  tradendum. 


1  Tho  author  of  this  record  was  Warin,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult  in 
Normandy,  from  whom  Orderic  quotes  it. 


HENRI     1.  11  •'$ 

[Church  at  Abingdon  ».  Pun  King's  Collectors. 
1119.]1 

[Lands  in  Berkshire  adjudged  not  subject  to  tax  ;  a  man  of  the  church 
making  oath  at  a  county  court  concerning  the  freedom  of  the  land.] 

Anno  III.  post  obitum  Faritii  abbatis,  cum  adhuc 
abbatia  hsec  in  attentione  abbatis  fuisset,  et  a  considera- 
tion regia  ad  id  adipiscendum,  dominium  ecclesise  erat 
quietum  a  geldis  quae  exigebantur  in  comitatu  universo. 
Sed  tamen  in  comitatu  Berchescira  a  collectoribus 
amplius  exigebatur  quam  debebatui*  de  gildatione 
ecclesise  contingenti ;  et  hoc  frequenter.  Unde  clamore 
apud  regiam  justitiam  facto,  decretum  est,  ut  aliquis  de 
ecclesise  affidaret  fide  in  comitatu  prsedicto  quot  hidis 
dominicis  eeclesia  deberet  quietari,  scilicet  per  episcopum 
SalesberiensemRogerum,  et  perLincolniensem  Robertum, 
et  Rannulfum  cancellarium,  qui  nominatim  multum 
adjuvit  inde,  et  Radulfum  Basset.  Itaque  sedente 
comitatu  apud  Suttunam,  et  Willelmo  de  Bochelande 
vicecomite  existente,  die  lunse  post  festum  Sancti 
Martini  proximo,,  Rogerus  de  Hartelvilla,  homo  eeclesia?, 
pro  eeclesia  affidavit  fidem  in  maim  ipsius  vicecomitis, 
vidente  toto  comitatu,  quod  de  septies  XX.  hidis  de 
dominio  deberet  abbatia  in  Berchescira  esse  quieta, 
quando  gildaretur.  Tunc  erat  collector  comitatus  ^Ed- 
uuinus  presbyter  de  Celsi,  et  Samuel  films  ejus.  Ibi 
fuerunt  de  nostris,  Robertus  sacrista,  et  Willelmus 
Brito,  et  alter  Willelmus  monachus,  et  Willelmus  de 
Suvecurda,  et  Turstinus,  et  Radulfus  camerarius,  et 
multi  alii. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  160  (Rec.  Com.). 


114  PLACITA    AX0L0-N0RMANNICA. 

[Mopbert  r.  Prior  and  Monks  oi?  Bath.     1121.]1 

[The  plaintiff  claims  certain  land  at  Bath,  as  the  adopted  heir  of  G, 
late  owner,  and  has  a  writ  of  seisin.  The  defendants  on  the 
other  hand  ailirm  that  G.  held  for  life  under  themselves,  and 
surrendered  to  them  the  land  in  his  last  sickness,  and  produce 
witnesses.  A  charter  is  also  introduced  in  evidence  by  the  de- 
fendants. The  court  being  much  divided  in  opinion,  the  oldest 
and  most  skilled  in  the  law  are  requested  to  retire  and  decide  the 
matter.  Their  decision  is  that  the  plaintiff  must  produce  two 
witnesses  from  the  defendants'  church,  or  a  genuine  charter.  The 
plaintiff  is  silent,  and  judgment  is  given  for  the  defendants  ;  the 
court  being  composed  of  bishops,  archdeacons,  clerks,  chaplains, 
and  others.] 

De  terra  Grants  in  Stocha  north.  Mense  Junio  in 
erastino  festivitatis  apostolorum  Petri  et  Pauli,  residente 
in  curia  sua  Bathse  Johanne  episcopo,  cum  amicis  et 
baronibus,  qui  simul  ad  diem  festum  aderant,  delata? 
sunt  ei  litterae  cum  sigillo  regio :  quarum  forma  haec : 
Willelmus  filius  regis,  Johanni  episcopo  de  Batlia 
salutem.  Prsecipio  ut  saisias  Modbcrtum  juste  de  terra 
quam  tenuit  Grenta  de  Stoca,  sicut  hsercditavit  eum  in 
vita  sua.  Teste  episcopo  Selesberiensi.  Lectis  litteris, 
episcopus  dixit.  Sicuti  per  has  mini  litteras  a  filio 
Domini  mei  mandatum  est  fieri,  si  tamen  just  urn  est 
acquiesco.  Vos  autem,  vos  amici  mei  et  Domini,  qui 
propter  apostolicum  diem  solenniter  huic  adestis  curia?, 
quid  in  hoc  justius  sit  discutcre  precor  dignemini.  Ad 
ha3C  domuus  prior,  habito  cum  fratribus  consilio,  data 
diligenter  ab  omnibus  audientia,  sic  locutus  est :  Quo- 
niam  quidem  nonnisi  juste  aliquid  liic  fieri  neque  rex 
neque  regis  filius  prsecipit,  et  vobis  tanquam  viris  bonis 
et  juris  peritis  utrum  justum  sit  quod  praecipitur 
discutcre  committitur,  quomodo  se  rei  Veritas  habeat 
manifestius  videbitis,  si  me  breviter  locuturum  patienter 

1  Mad.  Hist.  Exch.  75  (fol.  ed.). 


HENRY    T.  115 

audire  velitis.  Constat  quidem  quod  terra  hccc  de  qua 
nobis  hie  sermo  oritur,  a  diebus  antiquis  hujus  sanetae 
domus  Domini  fratribus  in  usus  proprios  et  possessio- 
nem liberam  data,  nullius  unquam  mutatione  regis, 
episcopi,  vel  abbatis,  in  jus  militare  transiit.  Quod  ipse 
Grenta  de  cujus  haereditate  nunc  agitur  moriens  etiam 
non  tacuit.  Nam  cum,  nobis  praesentibus,  domui  sua? 
disponeret,  et  rei  peculiaris  pai'tes  nominatim  divideret, 
secreto  monitus  a  domesticis  ut  testamentum  faciens 
publice  sibi  haeredem  substitueret.  Ait,  Haec  est  haere- 
ditas  servorum  Domini;  quam  vice  stipendii  non 
haereditatis  lege  quoad  viverem  tenere  permissus,  ipsum 
me  cum  terra,  fratribus  quibus  id  juris  est,  nunc 
moriens  relinquo.  Hoc  est  quod  fecit  testamentum  :  et 
haec  verba  illius  novissima.  Post  quae  vexatus  per  dies 
aliquot,  monachus  diem  obiit.  Praesentes  hie  etiam 
quosdam  video,  quos  omnibus  his  interfuisse  simul  et 
audisse  gratissimum  habeo.  Surgentes  ilico  testes 
quidam  legitimi  stantes  in  medio  constanter  asserebant, 
se  modis  omnibus  probaturos,  eum  ne  uno  quidem  verbo 
veritatis  praeterisse  vestigia.  Carta  nichilominus  dona- 
tionis  antiquae  mox  lecta  est ;  quam  Kenulfus  rex 
Saxonum  scribi  prsecepit  et  manu  propria  signavit, 
consentientibus  et  annuentibus  archiepiscopis,  episcopis, 
abbatibus,  et  omnium  dignitatum  primatibus  ac 
ministris.  Et  ut  ibi  legebatur,  eandem  cartam  signo 
crucis  notantes  imprecati  sunt  in  ilium  iram  furoris 
Domini,  quicunque  tarn  liberale  christianissimi  regis 
donativum  quocunque  deteriorationis  genere  pervertere 
praesumpsisset  in  aeternum.  Lectis  igitur  et  expositis 
quaa  carta  continere  videbatur,  ratioeinationis  jam  dictae 
Veritas  solidata  est;  aliis  bona  laudantibus,  aliis  ex 
adverso  tumultuantibus ;    illo  praecipue  occlamante,  qui 

i  2 


116  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

se  non  minus  procaciter  quam  mendaciter  haeredem 
contendebat  esse;  justissime ;  quippc  qui  filiam 
defuncti  con  jug-em  habuerit  ;  adoptatus  ab  ejusdem 
patre  dum  viveret  in  filium  ;  patrem  vero  non  stipen- 
diarie,  ut  oppositum  est,  sed  libere  potius  et  hsereditarie 
terram  de  qua  questio  erat  tenuisse.  Cunque  diutius 
variis  ab  alterutrum  contradictioriibus  causa  protende- 
retur,  dixit  episcopus.  Quia  dies  prseterit,  et  ad  nos 
alia  spectant  negotia,  placet  ut  vos  quos  nee  advocatos 
nee  partium  fautores  esse  cognovimus  causam  diligenter 
perpendentes  quo  termino  sopiri  debeat  judicetis.  Sece- 
dentes  igitur  a  turba  qui  majores  natu  qui  juris 
peritiores  esse  videbantur,  singula  juxta  quod  audierant 
subtiliter  et  discrete  pensantes  causam  dijudicaverunt. 
Quibus  iterum  introgressis,  sic  unius  ore  pro  omnibus 
ri'latum  est.  Considerantes,  inquit,  totam  hujus  causa? 
circumstantiam  hoc  diffinientes  statuimus,  ut  baeredem 
jure  qui  se  nominat  id  quod  in  assertionem  sua?  causa? 
paulo  ante  declamavit,  testibus  ad  minus  duobus  de 
ecclesise  familia  liberis  et  legitimis  bodie  nominatis  et 
octavo  productis,  vel  cyrographo  credibiliter  signato, 
irrefragabiliter  probet.  At  in  utroque  si  defecerit,  ne 
quidem  audiatur  in  reliquum.  Respondentibus  ad  hose 
omnibus  dignum  et  justum  esse,  calumpniator  obticuit. 
A  curia  discessum  est.  Acta  sunt  baec  anno  Domini 
MCXXI.  ;  praesentibns  et  quod  justum  est  approban- 
tilms  episcopis  duobus,  Jolianne  Batbensi  et  Mauricio 
Hiberniensi ;  cum  arcbidiaconis  tribus,  Johele  Salesbe- 
riensij  et  Girberto  Bathensi,  et  Araldo,  cum  clericis 
pluribus  et  capellanis ;  Atselino  Hosato,  Girberto  Rufo, 
Radulfo  Laudmii,  Henrico  de  Lidiard,  Hodberto  de 
Bet  una  ;  horum  testes  sunt,  Patricius  de  Caurz, 
Hubertus  de  Sancta   Susanna,  Winebaldus  de   Baalun, 


HENRY    I.  117 

Alexander  de  Alnoth,  Reinaldus  de  Dunstanvilla,  Gif- 
fardus  de  Salforda,  Helias  de  Deingt.,  Thomas  de 
Bacuuil.,  Rcdbertus,  Rogerus  de  La  mare,  Willelmus 
dapifer,  item  Willelmus. 

[The  king's  writ  of  confirmation.] 

Henricus  rex  Anglo-rum,  episcopo  de  Batha  salutem. 
Prsecipio  quod  monachi  de  Batha  ita  bene  et  in  pace  et 
juste  et  honorifice  teneant  terrain  suam  de  Stoca,  quam 
Grenta  tenuit,  sicut  dirrationaverunt  earn  contra  Mod- 
bertum  per  judicium  curia?  tuse,  ne  super  hoc  amplius 
inde  clamorem  audiam.  Et  nisi  feceris,  Warinus  vice- 
comes  et  Durandus  de  Moiun  faciant  fieri.  Teste 
episcopo  Salisberiensi,  apud  Westmonasterium. 

[Another  writ  to  the  same  effect  by  king  Stephen.] 

Stephanus  rex  Anglorum,  Rodberto  episcopo  Bathoniae 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  monachi  de  Bathonia  ita  bene 
et  in  pace  et  juste  et  honorifice  teneant  terram  suam  de 
Stocha,  quam  Grenta  tenuit,  sicut  earn  disrationaverunt 
contra  Modbertum,  per  judicium  curia?  Johannis  epis- 
copi ;  ne  super  hac  ulla  fiat  eis  inde  disturbatio.  Et  nisi 
feceris,  justitia  mea  faciat.  Teste  Rodberto  de  Ver,  apud 
Goldintonam. 


[Monks  of  Durham  v.  Monks  of  York.     1121.] l 

[The  plaintiffs,  by  the  testimony  of  a  certain  witness,  recover  a 
church  of  which  they  had  been  unlawfully  disseised  by  one  under 
whom  the  defendants  claim ;  the  trial  occurring  before  many 
great  men.] 

Monachi  Dunelmenses  facta    de   ecclesia    qua?    est    in 

1  1  Twysden's  Scriptores,  2-13  (Simeon  of  Durham). 


118  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Tjrnemutha  proclamatione  in  capitulo  Sancti  Petri 
Ebovaci  prsesentibus  episcopis  Turstiuo  prsedicto,  Ranulfo 
Dunelmensi  et  Homo  Sancti  Ebroini  aliisque  multis, 
banc  sui  juris  fuisse  conquesti  sunt  ex  concessione 
Waltheofi  comitis,  quando  consobrinum  suum,  scilicet 
materterse  sua?  filium,  Markarura  puerum  parvulum  eis 
nutriendum  Deo  in  Gyrwensi  monasterio  contradedit.  .  .  . 
Post  rem  o  cum  Albrius  bonorem  comitatus  suscepisset, 
ipse  quoque  nobis  in  Dunelmum  translatis,  eundem 
locum  donavit.  Unde  mox  ex  capituli  totius  sententia 
monachus  noster  Turchillus  illuc  mittitur,  qui  renovato 
ecclesise  ipsius  culniine,  per  multum  tempus  babitavit 
ibidem,  donee  postea  a  Hodberto  de  Mulbreio  comite, 
propter  odium  quod  contra  episcopum  Willielmum 
habuerat,  per  ministros  ipsius  comitis  Gumerum  et 
Ptodbertum  Taca  violenter  expelleretur.  Non  multo 
post  abbas  monasterii  Sancti  Albani  Paulus  praedictam 
ecclesiam  a  comite  impetravit,  quam  visurus  cum 
venisset  Eboracum,  Turg-otus  qui  tunc  Dunelmensis 
ecclesise  prioratum  gerebat,  missis  illuc  monachis  et 
clericis,  in  praesentia  archiepiscopi  Thonue  senioris, 
multarumque  magna  reverentia?  personarum,  canonica 
ilium  auctoritatc  prohibuit,  ne  locum  juris  ecclesise 
Dunelmensis  sibi  usurparet,  et  sic  sacrorum  canonum 
et  f'raterna!  caritatis  violator  existeret.  At  ille  indigna 
respondens,  illud  prohibitum  nichili  pendit.  Sed  cum 
illo  pervenisset,  correptus  infirmitate,  dum  rediret,  non 
longe  ab  Eboraco  in  Seterintun  vitam  terminavit. 
Taliter  ecclesiam  de  Tinemutha  amisimus. 

line  querimonia  facta  Eboraci  media  ferme Quadrage- 
sima, replicatur  paulo  post  in  ebdomada  Paschali  feria 
I  \'.  idus  Aprilis  Dunelmi  coram  magno  conventu 
principalium   viroram,   qui   tunc    forte   propter   negotia 


HENRY    I.  119 

qusedam  illuc  confluxerunt,  scilicet  Rodbertus  de  Brys, 
Alarms  de  Perceio,  "Walterus  Espec,  Forno  filius  Sig., 
Rodbertus  de  Wituila,  Odardus  vicecomes  Northyrnbren- 
siuin  cum  majoribus  ejusdem  comitatus,  aliisque  quam- 
plures.  Coram  liorum  frequentia  cum  suas  monachi 
depromerent  querelas,  ccce  Harnoldus  de  Perceio,  vir 
genere  et  divitiis  notus,  et  in  veritate  asserenda 
constans,  exurgens,  in  testimonium  veritatis  affirmabat 
coram  omnibus,  et  audisse  se  et  vidisse  comitis  pceni- 
tentiam  super  hanc  injur iam  quam  Sancto  Cuthberto1 
violenter  irrogaverat.  Cum,  inquit,  captus  comes  in 
loco  quern  Sancto  Cuthberto  abstulerat,  propter  inflicta 
sibi  vulnera  in  feretro  delatus  esset  Dunelmum,  rogavit 
ut  sibi  liceret  ad  orandum  ecclesiam  intrare.  Quod 
cum  sibi  a  baronibus  non  permitteretur,  in  lacrimas 
resolutus,  et  ad  ecclesiam  respiciens  cum  gemitu,  ait, 
"  O  Sancte  Cuthberte,  juste  has  calamitates  patior,  quia 
n  te  et  in  tuos  peccavi.  Hsec  est  tua  super  meam  vita? 
nequitiam  vindicta.  Precor  te  Sancte  Dei  miserere 
mei."  His  auditis,  omnes  in  juste  actum  esse  contra 
Dunelmensem  ecclesiam  dicebant :  et  licet  res  in 
prsesenti  corrigi  nequiverit,  tamen  prudenter  banc 
cahunpniam  pro  futuro  tempore  coram  tot  virorum 
frequentia  factam  asserebant. 


[Monks  of  St.  Stephen  v.  The  King's  Tenants. 
1122.]2 

[The  plaintiffs  allege  that  the  defendants  have  unlawfully  occupied 
certain  of  their  lands.     The  king  orders  the  question  to  be  de- 


1  At  Durham.  2  2  Palgrave,  Commonwealth,  183. 


120  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNi' 

cided  by  four  neighbouring  towns.     Seven  hundreds  aesen 

>  Warin,  sheriff.    Sixix  worn  to  make  true  aflfirmation 

on  inquisition,  affirm  thai  the  land  has  always  been,  and  ought 
to  be  appurtenant  to  B.,  as  claimed  by  the  plaintiffs.] 

Anno  millesimo  centessimo  vicessimo  secundo  ab  incarna- 
tione Domini.  Henricus  rex  Anglorum  prseccpit  ut  quaerela 
monachorum  Sancti  Stephaui  Cadomi,  quam  faciebant  de 
terra,  quae  pcrtiuet  ad  Bridetonam,1  quam  homines  regis 
de  Brideport  prseripuerant,  et  auxilio  ministrorum  regis 
potiti  diu  tenuerant,  sub  examinatione  judicum  discu- 
taretur  ;  ita  quidem  ut  finis  totius  qua?stionis  in  affirma- 
tione  virorum  de  quatuor  partibus  vicinitatis  illius  villse 
ponaretur.  Quod  sepe  dilatum,  tandem  ut  fieret,  in- 
stabat  regis  jussio.  Die  igitur  statuto,  calumpnia  mo- 
nachorum audita  est  coram  septem  hundrcdis  qui  con- 
venerant  super  eandem  terram,  ex  circumjacentibus  et 
procul  remotis  villis,  prsesente  Guarino  vicecomite  de 
Dorseta  et  Sumerseta  cujus  tenendum  super  hac  re 
specialiter  injunctum  erat,  et  secundum  regis  definitionem 
juratum  est.  Nam  sexdecim  homines,  tres  videlicet  de 
Brideport  et  tres  de  Bridetona  et  decern  de  vicinis,  jura- 
verunt  se  veram  affirmationem  facturos  de  inquisitione 
terras  illius.  Qui,  facta  inquisitione,  cujus  reetius  debeat 
esse  affirmabant,  juxta  fidem  juramenti,prsedictam  terram 
antiquitus'  adjacere  ad  Bridetonam.  Et  cujus  merit 
Bridetona,  ejus  debere  esset  et  terra  ilia.  Quorum 
assertioni  cuncti  adquiescentes ;  Dei  gratia,  Sanctique 
Stephani  meritis,  sua  jura  conquaerentibus  adjudicabant, 
restituendamque  terram  illam  ad  Bridetonam,  et  mo- 
uaeliis  ilico  tradendam.  Sicque  eodem  die  factum  est. 
.  .  .  Nomina  vevo  illorum  qui  juraverunt,  hsec  sunt. 
Willielmus  de  Uer,  Ranaldus  Postel,  Bualdus  de  Esterta, 

mi -d  to  the  abbey  by  I  he  <  'onqu 


HENRY   I.  121 

Ricardus  filius  Livingi,  Ailwardi  de  Denecaham,  Ed- 
wardus  Chingenot,  Saricus  dc  Berewicia,  Ailwardus  de 
Bridia,  Levericus  Burdelin,  Alwinus  Bacon,  qui  erat 
propositus,  Edwinus  filius  Sarici  de  Brideport,  Alvricus 
filius  Sideflet,  Tedwi  de  Brideport,  Torgotus  de  Bride- 
tona,  Saricus  de  Bridetona,  Alwinus  filius  Onwini  de 
Bridetona. 


[Abbot  Vincent  v.  Ralph  Basset.     1124  ?]' 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  defendant  to  permit  the  plaintiff  to 
hold  his  court  at  Oxford,  and  directing  an  inquisition  as  to  the 
plaintiff's  rights  in  respect  of  his  court.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  Radulfo  Basset,  salutem.  Prae- 
eipio  quod  facias  habere  Vincentio  abbati  Abbendonse 
curiam  suam  in  Oxeneford,  ita  bene  et  plenarie  sicut 
unquam  ipsa  ecclesia  Abbendonae,  vel  aliquis  anteces- 
sorum  suorum,  melius,  et  plenarius,  et  honorificentius 
habuit.  Et  homines  sui  non  placitent  extra  curiam 
suam,  nisi  abbas  prius  defecerit  de  recto  in  curia  sua, 
et  sicut  poteris  inquirere  per  legales  homines  de 
Oxeneford  quod  habere  debeat  curiam  suam.  Teste 
cancellario ;  apud  Uudestoca. 


[Abbot  Hugh.     1132.] 2 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  a  judgment  concerning  rents  and  cus- 
toins,  which  judgment  had  been  rendered  in  the  timo  of  William  II. 
by  three  counties.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglorum,  Haimoni  dapif'ero,   salutem. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  A.bingd.  165  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  361  (Rec.  Com.). 


122  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Prsecipio  ut  facias,  quod  Sanctus  Augustinus  et  Hugo 
abbas  ita  bene  et  honorifice  et  plenitudinarie  habeat 
omnes  redditus  et  consuetudines  suas  de  Bathgorz,  et 
inter  csetera  nominatim  ecclesiam  de  Newingtone,  sicut 
judicatum  fuit  tempore  fratris  mei  in  tribus  comitatibus 
apud  Suthwercam ;  quia  volo  ut  sua  omnia  cum  honore 
teneat.  Et  vide  ne  amplius  inde  clamorem  audiam 
propter  penuriam  justitise.  Teste  Willelmo  episcopo 
Exonia),  apud  Nortbamptone. 


CASES    OF  THIS    REIGN   OF   LESS   CERTAIN 
DATE. 

[Abbot  Gausfrid  and  the  Abbot  of    Marmoutier. 
Ecclesiastical.]  * 

[Tho  abbot  of  Marmoutier  seeks  to  subject  the  abbot  of  Battel  to  his 
jurisdiction.  The  former  goes  to  tho  king  privately  with  his  case, 
but  the  king  refuses  to  act  without  counsel.  Gausfrid,  hearing 
of  the  attempt,  seeks  to  dissuade  the  king  from  any  such  act  (to 
which  he  seemed  disposed) ;  and  the  king  calls  a  council.  Tho 
council  requires  the  abbot  of  Marmoutier  to  produce  deeds.  The 
latter  replies  that  he  has  none  ;  that  the  king's  word  of  mouth  is 
sufficient ;  but  this  was  denied  by  tho  council,  at  least  if  the 
donation  woro  not  proved  by  witnesses.] 

Gloriosi  igitur  regis  Henrici  virtutis  ac  magnificenti;e 
f'ama  longe  lateque  percrebrescente,  inter  quamplures 
ipsius  curia;  appetitores  tunc  temporis  rege  in  Paschale 
solennitate  apud  Wintoniam  coronato,  de  transmarinis 
partibus  venerabilis  Majoris  Monasterii  abbas  Willelmus 
honorifice  advenit,  hanc  maxime  ob  causam   ut  quoquo 

1  Chron.  Mod   di    Bi   :      19  (  Ug.  Chris.  Soc). 


HENRY    I.  123 

pacto  banc  cle  qua  agitur  ecclcsiam  de  Bello  sibi  subju- 
gando  ancillaret.  Is  itaque  a  regia  gratanter  magnifi- 
centia  exceptus,  post  dies  tandem  solennes  adventus  sui 
causam  regi  per  internuntios  sagaeiter  suggevere  curavit. 
Rege  itaque  immodice  ejus  votis  pro  sui  reverentia  et  ob 
id  quam  maxime  quod  de  tam  remotis  partibus  ultro 
suara  expetisset  curiam,  favei'e  conante,  hinc  tamen 
absque  consilio  nil  definiri  deliberavit.  Affuit  igitur  et 
tunc  inter  reliquos  regni  primores  in  curia,  uti  regise 
aulae  secretis  non  exclusus,  memoratus  vir  dominus 
Gausfridus,  Bellensis  ecclesiae  procurator.  Qui  dum 
haec  forte  rescisset,  causae  non  segniter  per  se  perque 
suae  fautores  prudentise  intendens,  hinc  regis  penitus 
animum  provide  perstitit  avertere.  Cum  ergo  hac  de  re 
abbatis  ejusdem  legationem  rex  excepisset,  dicentis  a 
patre  ipsius  rege  Willelmo  Belli  monasterium  in  subjec- 
tionis  dominium  Majori  Monasterio  ab  initio  fundationis 
illius  eollatum,  conflrmationis  munimenta  hinc  ab  ipso 
provide  regii  exigebant  consiliarii.  Ad  haec  cum  abbas, 
tanti  viri  donum  verbotenus  collatum  absque  arbitro 
posse  sufficere,  nee  super  hoc  quodlibet  conflrmationis 
edictum  quemquam  hactenus  quaasisse,  quia  nee  necessa- 
rium  fore  putabant,  astrueret ;  responsum  est,  non  fore 
ratum  posse  donationem  tanta?  rei  ubi  scilicet  et  liberalis 
auctoritas  dignitatum  necnon  et  regire  corona?  extabat 
signum,  si  non  aut  cartarum  aut  certe  testium  viva 
voce  probata  roboraretur.  Hac  igitur  ratione  tan- 
dem cassata1  exactoris  sollicitudine,  hinc  spes  effectus 
excluditur. 

1  cessata. 


1:2  1  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  Richard  v.  Bishop  Ranulf.]1 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  a  judgment  obtained  by  tbo  plaintiff  as 
to  the  manor  of  Haddam,  in  the  king's  court,  before  the  king  and 
bis  barons.] 

Heniiicus  rex  Anglorum  Mauricio  Lundoniensi  episcopo, 
et  Hugoni  de  Bochelande  vicecomiti  de  Herefordsyra, 
et  omnibus  fldelibus  suis  tam  clcricis  quam  laicis  salutem. 
Sciatis  Ricardum  abbatem  de  Ely  diratiocinasse  adversus 
Rannulfum  Dunholmensem  episcopum  manerium  de 
Haddam  in  curia  mea  apud  Rumesi  coram  me  et  baroni- 
bus  meis,  ad  dominium  Sancti  Petri  et  beatse  virginis 
Dei  iEdeldredse  de  Ely,  et  fratrum  monacliorum  ibidem 
Deo  famulantium.  Volo  igitur  et  prsecipio  ut  ipsa 
abbatia  de  Ely  teneat  et  habeat  in  dominio  illud  prsedic- 
tum  manerium  de  Haddam  quiete  et  absque  omni  ca- 
lumpnia  amode  et  usque  in  sempiternum,  testibus  sub- 
scriptis  Radulfo  e])iscopo  Lincolniae,  et  Willelmo  Giffardo 
episcopo  TVintoniae,  et  Jolianne  episcopo  Badme,  et 
Radulfo  episcopo  Cicestriae,  et  alii  plures  quos  enarrare 
lonffum  est. 


[Abbot  Fa  urn  us  v.  Hugh  of  Bocland  et  al.]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  observance  of  customs  of  tho  plaintiff  in 
tho  Thames.] 

Heniucus,  rex  Anglisc,  Hugoni  de  Bochelanda,  et  Wil- 
lielmo  de  Oxeneford  vicecomiti,  salutem.  Prsecipio 
vobis  ut  facialis  Faritio  abbati  de  Abbendona,  et  omni- 

i  Liber  Eliensis,  298  (Aug.  Chris.  Soc). 
2  2  Hist.  Mod.  Abingd.95  '  Rec.  Com.). 


HENRY    I.  125 

bus  monachis  Abbendonise,  habere  omnes  consuetudines 
in  omnibus  rebus,  quas  habere  debent,  per  aquam  Tami- 
sise,  ubicumque  habere  debent.  Et  ita  ne  pro  penuria 
justitise  vestrae  ipsa  ecclesia  vel  monaehi  quicquam 
perdant,  super  X.  libras  forisfacturce.  Teste  Rogero 
Bigot.     Per  Ared  falconarium. 


[Abbot  Hugh.]1 

[The  king's  'writ  granting  a  market,  with  right  of  forfeiture  and 

pleas.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  Radulpho  Cantuariae  archiepis- 
copo  et  Willelmo  de  Hammesford  vicecomiti,  et  omnibus 
baronibus  et  fidelibus  suis  de  Kent,  salutem.  Concedo 
Deo  et  Sancto  Augustino  Cantuariae,  et  Hugoni  abbati 
et  omnibus  successoribus  suis  habere  mercatum  in  in- 
sula de  Thanet.  Et  homines  illue  venientes  et  redeuntes 
omnes  tirmam  pacem  meam  habeant,  ne  aliquis  eos  dis- 
turbet  neque  injuriam  vel  contumeliam  faciat.  Et  ita 
babeat  abbas  in  pace,  et  quiete,  et  honorifice  mercatum 
ipsum  cum  omnibus  consuetudinibus,  et  forisfactis,  et 
placitis  suis,  sicut  habet  aliquam  terram  vel  rem  Sancti 
Augustini  melius  et  quietius  et  honorificentius.  Testibus 
Rogero  episcopo  Sarum,  et  Ranulpho  cancellario,  et  Ni- 
gello  de  Albini,  apud  Westmonasterium. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  365  (Rec.  Com.). 


126  I'l.UilA    AXCLO-XOR.MANNICA. 

[Monks  of  Gloucester.]' 

[The  king's    writ    exempting  the   monks   of    Gloucester  from  toll, 
customs,  and  passage.] 

HenricuS;  rex  Anglia?,  omnibus  vicecomitibus  et  minis- 
tris  totius  Angliae,  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  proprii 
homines  monacliorum  de  Gloucestria,  et  victus,  et  corre- 
dium,  et  res  ubicunque  emerint  et  vendiderint  ad  opus 
suum  proprium,  sint  quieti  ab  omni  theloneo,  et  consue- 
tudine,  et  passagio.  Et  prohibeo  ne  aliquis  cos  disturbet 
super  decern  libras  forisfactura}.  Teste  Rann.  cancel- 
lario  apud  Cirecestram. 


[Monks  of  Gloucester.]  - 

[A  similar  writ.] 

Henricus,  rex  Ang-lia",  Waltero  de  Bellocampo,  et 
ministris  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Wyrecestresira, 
salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  omncs  res  monacliorum  Glou- 
cestria?, et  coria,  et  tannum,  et  naves,  et  quicquid  eme- 
rint vel  duxerint,  qua  eorum  homines  possunt  affidare 
esse  sua  dominica,  sint  quieta  ab  omni  theloneo,  et  omni 
consuetudine.  Et  defendo  super  decern  libras  forisfac- 
turae  ne  aliquis  cos  disturbet.  Teste  Waltero  Gloucestriae 
apud  Gloucestriam. 

1  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  132  (Rec.  Com.).  -  lb.  134. 


HENRY    I. 


127 


[Abbot  of  Westminster  v.  Certain  Men.]1 


[Tie  king's  writ   of  trespass  (?)  for  breaking  the  church  at  Win- 
chester.] 

Henricus  rex  Angliae,  Eicardo  episcopo  do  Lundonia 
salutem.  Mando  tibi  ut  facias  plenum  rectum  abbati 
Westmonasterii,  de  hominibus  qui  fregerunt  ecclesiam 
suam  de  Wintonia  noctu  et  armis.  Et  nisi  feceris, 
barones  mei  de  Scaccario  faciant  fieri,  ne  audiam  clamo- 
rem  inde  pro  penuria  recti.    T.  &c.    [Names  not  given.] 

Observe  that  the  Exchequer  is  referred  to  as  a  court  of  trial.     See 
also  ante,  p.  100. 


[Abbot  of  Westminster,]  s 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  grant  of  land.] 

Henricus  rex  Anglorum,  Willelmo  constabulario  de 
Cestria  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  abbas  de  Westmonas- 
terio  et  monachi  teneant  terram  suam  de  Peritona,  quam 
pater  tuus  pro  anima  uxoris  suae  ecclesiee  dedit  in  ele- 
mosinam,  ita  bene  et  honorifice,  et  libere  et  juste,  et 
quiete  de  scutagio  et  omnibus  secularibus  consuetudinibus, 
sicut  pater  tuus  primitus  ipsi  ecclesise  dedit  et  concessit, 
et  sicut  ipsi  postea  melius  tenuerunt  et  tempore  Hugonis 
comitis  de  Cestria.  Et  super  hoc  nullus  forisfaciat  eis 
vel  rebus  suis  quicquam.  Et  si  super  hoc  quicquam  de  suo 
injuste  captum  est  reddatur,  ne  audiam  inde  clamorem. 
Et  nisi  feceris,  Ricardus  Basset  faciat  fieri.  Teste  eodem 
Ricardo  Basset  apud  Udestok. 

1  Madox3  Hist.  Exch.  141  (fol.  ed.).  >  lb.  435. 


128  plactta   anolo-xoioiannica. 

[Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  "Walter,  Son  of  Wisceo.]1 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  that  the  plaintiff  be  put  in  seisin  of 
lands  of  which  he  had  been  disseised  by  the  defendant.] 

Henricus,    rex    Ang-lorum,    Wallero    filio    Wisceonis, 

salutem.     Praeeipio  quod  juste  et  plene  resaisyas  abbatem 

et  monachos  Gloucestriae  de  terns  et  ecclesiis  et  decimis 

et  omnibus  rebus  quas  pater  tuus  eis  dedit  in  elemosi- 

nam,  undo  ipsi  sunt  injuste  et  sine  judicio  dissaysiti ;  et 

bene,  et  in  pace,  et  juste  et  honorifice  teneant,  sicut  ipsi 

hoc   dirationarc    poterint    per  suos  legales    testes   quod 

pater  tuus  eas  eis  in  elemosinara  dedit  ;  et  nisi  feceris, 

episcopus  Sancti  David  faciat  ne  ipsi  quicquam  perdant 

pro  penuria  recti  vol  justitise,  neque   ego  amplius   inde 

clamorem  audiam.   Teste  P.  filio  Joliannis  apud  Oxoniam. 

This  writ  is  interesting  as  a  prototype  of  the  fixed  form  of  tho  writ 
of  novel  disseisin,  given  by  Glanvill.  Lib.  13,  c.  33.  See  also  Abbot 
of  Gloucester  v.  William,  the  Constable,  infra,  p.  130. 


[Same  Parties.]3 

[The  king's  writ  of  execution  (?)  issued  upon  judgmont  against   the 
defendant  in  tho  case  supra.'] 

Henricus  rex  Ang-lorum  Bernardo  episcopo  Sancti  David, 
salutem.  Mando  tibi  et  praecipio  quod  prsecipias  Waltero 
filio  Wisceonis  ut  plene  et  juste  reddat  ecclesia)  Santi 
Petri  Gloucestria)  et  abbati  et  monachis  elemosinas  suas 
de  Dug'ledin  et  de  alia  terra  AYisceonis  quas  ipsi  juste 
habere  debent,  et  quas  pater  Walteri  eis  dedit  et  con- 
cessit concessu  antecessoris  tui,  no  super  hoc  tu  aliquam 
injuriam  amplius  inde  eis  facias,  nee  fieri  permit tas. 
Teste  cancellario  apud  Westmonasterium. 

'  l  Chron.  Mo,,.  Glouc.  264  (Rec,  Com.).  -  J l.. 


IIKXRY    I. 


129 


[Alias  writ  of  execution  (?).]' 

Ilenrieus,  rex  Anglorum,  episcopo  Sancti  David,  salu- 
tem.  Praecipio  quod  monachi  Gloucestriae  habcant  saysi- 
nam  suam  de  ecelesia  sua  de  Dugledi  et  omnibus  ejus 
pertinentiis  ita  bene  et  in  pace  sicut  hide  habent  cartam 
praedecessoris  tui  de  concessione  tua,  et  sicut  earn  ante 
transfretationem  mcam  praacepto  meo  et  judicio  sinodi 
tuaa  dirationaverunt ;  et  sicut  hoc  postea  per  ipsam  syno- 
dum  recognitum  fuit  quod  ea  ita  dirationaverant.  Et 
super  hoc  non  placitent  amplius.  Teste  Milone  Glou- 
cestriae apud  Argentum. 

[The  matter  was  settled  by  the  following  grant  from  Walter : — ] 

Sciant  praesentes  et  futuri,  totius  Sanetae  Ecclesioe 
filii,  quatinus  Walterius  filius  Wytsonis  reddidit  et  con- 
cessit Deo  et  Sancto  Petro  abbati  et  conventui  de  Glou- 
cestria  eeclesiam  eastelli  Wytsonis  de  Duglediu,  et 
omues  ecelesias  et  capellas  terras  suae,  decimas  et  bene- 
ficia,  et  terras  et  totam  donationem  plenarie  quam  pater 
suus  Wytso  praedictae  ecclesiae  donavit.  Ista  redditio  et 
concessio  fuit  facta  in  praesentia  episcopi  Bernardi  de 
Sancto  David.    HiLs  testibus,  etc.    [Names  not  given.] 

[Church  of  St.  Peter  of  Gloucester  v.  Milo  et  al.]1 

[The  king's  writ  forbidding  the  defendants  to  enter  certain  pasture 
land  given  to  the  church  of  St.  Peter.] 

Henricus,   rex  Anglian,  Miloni    Gloucestriae,  et   G.  de 

Abithot,  et   Hugoni  villano,  et  forestario  de  Malvernio, 

salutem.     Praecipio  non   intromittatis  vos  de  bosco  de 

Wyvelrugge    et    de    Corswelle,  quod  est   Sancti  Petri 

Gloucestriae,  quia  ilium  dedi  monachis  Gloucestriae  in 

elemosinam,  etc.'' 

»  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  265  (Rec.  Com.)-  2  lb.  268.  3  Sic. 

K 


l30  placita   a.nglo-noemannica. 

[Abbot  of  Gloucester   v.  William,  the  Constable.]1 

[Tho  kind's  writ  commanding  the  defendant  to  put  the  plaintiff  in 
seisin  of  certain  land,  if  the  latter  has  unlawfully  disseised  the 
plaintiff.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  Willelmo  constabularies  salutem. 
Si  sine  judicio  dissaysisti  abbatem  Gloucestriae  de  Coleby 
quod  pater  tuus  dederat  uionachis  Gloucestriae  in  ele- 
mosinam,  tunc  praecipio  quod  cum  juste  inde  resaysias, 
et  teneat  ita  bene  sicut  tenuit  die  qua  pater  tuus  fuit 
vivus  et  mortuus,  ita  ne  super  hoc  amplius  ei  injuriam 
facias,  ne  sine  justo  judicio  dissaysias.  Et  siquis  versus 
eum  inde  quid  clamaverit,  abbas  non  perdat  in  curiam 
suam  injuste.  Et  nisi  feceris  justitia  mea  et  vicecomes 
faciant.     Teste,  etc.  [Names  not  given.] 

Observe  the  approach  of  the  above  to  the  fixed  writ  of  novel  dis- 
seisin of  Glanvill  and  later  times.     Glanv.  Lib.  13,  c.  33;  supra,  p.  128. 


[Church  of  Abingdon  v.  William.]  2 

[One  William,  by  a  writ  of  the  king,  obtains  seisin  of  a  mill  claimed 
by  the  church  at  Abingdon  ;  but  afterwards  on  complaint  of  the 
church  the  mill  is  restored  by  the  king.] 

Post  obitum  vero  abbatis  Faritii  conquestus  est  idem 
Willelmus  regi,  tunc  in  Normannia  posito,de  supradicto 
molendino,'  quia  videlicet  vi  potestatis  prsedicti  abbatis, 
potius  quam  sure  propria?  voluntatis,  ecclcsia  babeat. 
Quare  regis  mandato  saisitus  est  inde.  Sed  postea, 
legatione  monacliorum  per  Walterum  capellanum  Wil- 
lelmi  de  Boclielande,  veritatem  rex  cognoscens,  pracepit 
resaisiare  ecclesiam. 

1  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  242  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  123  (Rec.  Com.). 

3  A  mill  at  Langford,  given  by  William  to  the  church. 


HENRY   I.  13] 

[Abbot  Faritius  v.  Egilwin,  Son  of  Godric]  ' 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  judgment  in  his  own  court  in  respect  of  land 
of  which  the  defendant  had  fraudulently  disseised  him.] 

Egilwinus  Alius  Godrici  de  Celvesgrave  celavit  abbati 
Faritio  quantum  terrse  habebat.  Dicebat  enim  nonnisi 
XII.  acras  in  campo  se  habere,  sicut  ei  in  conventione 
factum  fuerat  in  capitulo  monachorum.  Sed  ipse  abbas, 
inquisitione  certa  de  hoc  facta,  invenit  aliter  istud  se 
habere,  et  multo  amplius  terrse  ilium  cum  prsedictis  XII. 
acris  tenuisse ;  unde  judicatum  est  pro  hoc  forisfacto,  in 
curia  ejusdem  abbatis,  ut  praedictus  vir  singulis  annis  VI. 
sextarios  mellis  redderet,  sicut  antea  duos  reddiderat, 
et  csetera  servitia  sicut  antea  fecerat  monachorum  usui 
persolveret. 


[Ermenold  v.  Abbot  Faritius.]  : 

|  Abbot  Faritius  makes  distraint  upon  Ermenold  for  non-payment  of 
rent.  The  latter  replevies  his  property,  with  pledges.  The  re- 
plevin suit  coming  on,  the  abbot  obtains  judgment  by  default, 
and  the  matter  is  compromised,  the  sureties  being  friends  of  the 
abbot.  The  case  is  tried  in  the  house  of  Ermenold,  before  the 
archdeacon  of  Oxford  and  Richard  of  S.  (the  sureties)  and  many 
others.] 

Ermenold  burgensis  de  Oxeneford  tenebat  de  abbate 
Faritio  wicam  quse  est  juxta  pontem  Oxeneford  pro  XL. 
solidis  ad  gablum ;  et  contigit  ut  gablum  detineret 
anno  uno.  Quare  abbas  sequenti  anno,  messis  tempore, 
quicquid  pecuniae  desuper  terram  illam  invenire  poterat 
namari  jussit,  et  terram  prohiberi.  At  ipse  Ermenoldus 
pro    se    Walterum,    archidiaconum    de    Oxeneford,    et 

i  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  139  (Rec.  Com.).  -    11).  110. 

K    2 


132  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Rieardum  de  Stanlache  abbati  transmisit,  et  pecuniam 
Buam  eorumdem  plegio  recepit,  die  statuto  placitandi  et 
plegio  quietandi.  Dies  postea  statutus  venit,nec  placitor, 
nee  plegius  quietandus  affuit.  Undo  abbas  preedictos 
plegios  ascitos  movit  de  habita  re  quaestionem.  Et  quia 
in  amove  familiares  ei  erant,  eorum  internuntio  mediante, 
inter  so  et  ipsuro  Ermenoldum  actum  est  ut  iste  vir 
misericordiam  abbatis  qusereret,  et  hoc  de  suis  rebus 
abbati  et  eeclesiae  Abbendonise  concederet,  ut  quicquid 
terra  habebat  sua  procuratione  in  burgo  et  de  foris  burgo, 
sive  sibi  propria  sive  in  vadem  positse,  nee  tamen  esset 
regis,  baronis,  aut  episcopi,  totum  simul  ecclesia  baberet. 
Creditores '  autem  terra,  si  possent  ab  abbate  suam 
terrain  ex  vadimonio  quietare,  reciperent  earn ;  sin  vero, 
abbati  et  monachis  permanerent.2  At  vero  abbas  eidem 
viro  concessit,  ut  si  vellet  monachus  fieri,  monachum  in 
Abbendona  eum  faceret.  Quod  si  mallet  in  villa  Abben- 
doniselaicus  degere,  hospitium  ei  proeuraretur  conveniens, 
et  victus  unius  monachi  et  unius  servientis  sibi  daretur. 
Hoc  Pactum  est  in  domo  pradicta  Ermenoldi,  sua  con- 
juge  et  lilio  suo  Willelmo  annuente,  coram  pradicto 
Waltero,  et  Ricardo  de  Stanlac,  et  multis  aliis.  Sed  et 
postea  in  Portmannimot  ostensum  et  concessum  eodem 
modo  et  eadem  conventione  est. 


[Abbot  Vincent.]  3 

abbol    of  Abingdon  obtains   restoration   from  the  king  of  the 
hundred  of  Homier,  with  right  of  market  there,  of  both  of  which 


1  Dobi  tores  ?  :  permaneret? 

3  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  1G3  (Hcc.  Com.). 


HENRY    I.  133 

he  had  been  disseised  by  judgment  of  court ;  the  case  being  de- 
cided by  the  king's  justiciars  and  barons.] 

In  diebus  hujus    patris1  quidam    maligni  abeuntes    ad 

regem  adulando  suascrunt  ei  ut  hundrcdum  de  Horni- 

mere  huie  ecclesiae  abriperet,  simul  et  mercatum  hujus 

villae    interdiceret ;    affirmantes    suis    mendaciis    quod 

nunquam  abbas  hujus   loci    in   propria   potestate  illud 

habuerit,  vel  mercatum  antiquitus  in  hac  villa  extiterit. 

Quorum  adulationibus  rex  commotus,  quibusdam  justi- 

cioribus  suis  prsecepit  quaestionem   inde   movere.     Qui 

priusquam  rem  sicut  erat  indagarent,  totam  abbatiam 

in  forisfactum  regis  posuerunt.    Quod  cernens  vir  pru- 

dentissimus,  tarn  saevae  tempestati  se  viriliter  objiciens, 

regem  adiit,  privilegium  regis  Eaduuardi  protulit,  et  ut 

cunctis  legeretur  rogavit.     Quod    cum,    rege    jubente, 

Rogerus  Salesberiensis  episcopus  recitasset,  co3pit  rex  ab 

indignatione  animum  revocare,  lenius  cum  abbati  loqui. 

At    ille    favore    baronum    circum    assistentium    fultus 

(diligebatur  enim  ab  omnibus,  eo  quod  esset  munificus  et 

largus),  postulabat  regem  ut  illud  suo  privilegio  et  ipse 

confirmaret  et  sigillo  muniret;    promittens  ei  trecentas 

marcas  argenti  se  daturum,   si  deinceps,  sic   hactenus, 

liceret  sibi  quiete  et  sine  querela  in  propria  illud  potestate 

habere.     Cujus  precibus  rex  annuens,  jussit  quae  peteba- 

tur  sine  dilatione  fieri.     Sed  et  de  mercatu  villae  jussit 

similiter  voluntatem  abbatis  fieri,  muniens  ea  quae  scribi 

praecepit  suo  sigillo. 

[The  following  are  the  grants  of  confirmation  : — ] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglorum,  episcopo  Salesberiae  et  vice- 

comiti,  et  justiciariis,  et  omnibus  baronibus  et  fidelibus 

suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Berchescira,  salutem.     Sciatis 

me  coucessisse   Deo  et  ecclesiae  Sanctae  Mariae   Abben- 

'    Abbot  Vincent. 


134  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNU   \. 

doniae,  et  abbati  Vincentio,  et  omnibus  abbatilms  succes- 
soribus  suis,  et  monachis  ibidem  Deo  servientibus, 
hundredum  de  Hornimera,  jure  perpetuo  tenendum  et 
habendum  eis  et  omnibus  suecessoribus  suis,  in  legitima 
et  liberrima  potestate  sua  etjustitia,  sicut  Eaduuardus 
rex  Anglorum  dedit  et  concessit  praedictae  ecelesiae,  et  per 
cartam  suam  confirmavit,  quam  coram  me  et  baronibus 
meis  lectam  esse  testified ;  et  sicut  pater  meus  Willelmus 
rex  dona  Eadwardi  regis  per  cartam  suam  concessit  et 
corroboravit.  Et  volo  et  firmiter  praecipio,  ut  abbas  et 
monachi  praesentes  et  futuri  prsedictum  hundredum  in 
pace,  et  quiete,  et  honorifice  teneant,  cum  omnibus  con- 
suetudinibus  et  quietationibus  suis,  cum  quibus  melius  et 
honorabilius  tenuerunt  tempore  praedictorum  regum ; 
scilicet,  quod  nullus  vicccomes  veleorum  ministri  inde  se 
quicquam  iutromittant,  sed  ipsi  libere  justitiam  suam 
habeant  ac  faciant.  Testibus,  Rogero  episcopo  Sares- 
beriae,  Alexandro  episcopo  Lincoln  ia?,  et  Gaufrido  can- 
cellario,  Roberto  de  Sigillo,  et  Nigello  nepote  episcopi, 
et  Willelmo  de  Albineio,  et  Roberto  de  Oili,  et  Radulf'o 
Basset,  et  Gaufrido  de  Clinton,  et  "Willelmo  de  Ponte,  et 
Milone  de  Cloecestria,  et  Albrico  de  Ver,  et  Willelmo  de 
Albineio  Britone,  et  Ricardo  Basset;  apud  Lundoniam. 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  episcopo  Salesberiae,  ct  vice- 
comiti,  et  justiciariis,  et  omnibus  baronibus  et  fidelibus 
suis  de  Berchescira,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  conccssisse 
ecclesire  Sanctae  ]\Iari:e  Abbendoine,  el  abbati  Vincentio, 
et  monachis,  mercatum  Abbendonae,  sicut  ecclesia  prae- 
dicta,  et  abbates,et  ipseVincentius  abbas,  melius  unquam 
ct  liberius  habuerunt,  et  die  qua  abbatiam  praedicto  Vin- 
ceatio  dedi,  et  bene,  ct  in  pace,  et  honorifice,  et  quiete 
teneant.      Testibus,    Rogero    episcopo    Seresberiae,    ct 


HENRY    I.  135 

Gaufrido  cancellario,  et  Gaufrido  de  Clinton,  ctWillelmo 
de  Ponte  :  apnd  Lnndoiiiam. 


[William   (de  Miners?)  v.  Abbot  and  Monks  of 
Gloucester.]  ' 

[Record    of  judgment  in  favour   of  the    defendants   concerning   a 
certain  manor.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,arcliiepiscopis,episcopis,  abbatibus, 

comitibus,  baronibus,  vicecomitibns,  et  omnibus  fidelibus 

suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  totius  Anglian,  salutem.     Sciatis 

quia  monachi  de  Gloucestria  et  Gilbertus  de  Miners  in 

curiam  meam  venerunt  coram  me  ad  terminum  inter  eos 

positum   de  placito  manerii   de   Culna  quod  Willelmus 

versus  eos  et  abbatem  suum  clamabat.     Et  Adam  de  Port 

et  Willelmus  filius  Odonis  coram  me  testificati  fuerunt 

quod  ipsi  affuerunt  ubi  Rogerus  de  Gloucestria  manerium 

illud   ecclesiffi    Saneti    Petri    Gloucestrise  et   monachos 

ibidem  Deo  servientibus  in  elemosinam  dederat,  et  ubi 

ego,  requisitione   ipsius   Rogerii,    donationem   illam   eis 

concessi.     Et  inde  idem  Gilbertus  judicium  recusavit. 


[Abbot  Vincent  v.  Simon,  the  Dispenser.]  - 

[The  abbot  recovers  a  church,  of  which  the  defendant  had  been  put 
in  seisin  by  the  king.] 

Quo  intervallo/  Simon  regis  Henrici  dispensator  .... 

1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  236  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  166  (Rec.  Com.). 

3  Between  1115  and  1119,  the  abbey  being  then  without  an  abbot. 


13G  PLACITA   ANGLO-NORM  ANNICA. 

suggessit  regi  in  Normannia  ecclesiam  et  terrain  prse- 
fatam  jure  hereditario  ad  sepertinere.  Quod  cum  facile 
ei  persuasisset,  quia  defuit  qui  resisteret,  rege  jubente, 
Simon  terram  cum  ecclesia  saisiavit,  et  tamdiu  tenuit 
quousque  abbas  Vincentius  hujus  loci  pastor  successit. 
Qui  cum  de  re  ista,  sicut  de  injuste  ablata,  coram  rege 
calumuiam  moveret,  Simouque  cogitasset  quam  injuste 
earn  adeptus  fuisset,  talis  tandem  inter  abbatem  et  ipsum 
Simonem  finis  evenit. 

A  quit-claim  of  all  the  property  of  the  abbey  by  Simon  follows. 


[Abbot  Peter  v.  Bishop  Remelin.]1 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  tho  body  of  a  deceased  person,  carried  away 
by  forco  by  the  defendant;  the  trial  being  before  the  king,  arch- 
bishop Anselm,  the  earl  of  Mellent,  and  bishops,  abbots,  and 
great  men.] 

Istius  "  tempore  fuit  grandis  altercatio  inter  domnum 
abbatem  Petrum,  et  Remelinum  episcopum  Herefordensem, 
in  prsesentia  regis  Henrici,et  domni  Anselmi  archiepiscopi> 
et  Roberti  comitis  de  Mellent,  et  multorum  episcoporum, 
abbatum,  et  procerum,  in  Pentecosten  pro  ablatione  cor- 
poris Radulplii  fllii  Askitilli,  quod  ille  episcopus  Reme- 
linus  per  vim  abstulerat;  et  fuit  dirationatum  ut  corpus 
defoderetur,  et  redderetur,  Roberto  comite  judicium  dic- 
tante,  ut  in  posterum  haberent  universi  liberam  potesta- 
1i  in  se  ubicuuque  vivi  disposuerant,  post  mortem  se- 
peliendi. 

1  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  13  (Rec.  Com.).  2  Abbol  Peter's. 


HENRY   I.  137 

[Bishop  Ranulf.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  bishop  be  put  in  seisin  of  certain 
lands.] 

Hexricus  rex  Osberno  vicecomiti,  et  omnibus  ministris 
suis  de  Everwyschira  salutera.  Precipio  vobis,  ut  resaisia- 
tis  Ranulplium  episcopum  Dunelmensem,  de  omnibus 
illis  terris  que  pertinent  ad  episcopatum  Dunelmensem, 
et  nominatim  de  terra  de  Clivelanda,  quam  Copsius  dedit 
Sancto  Cuthberto.  Teste  Ursone  de  Abetot  apud  Here- 
ford. 


[Bishop  Ranulf  v.  Robert  de  Muscams.]  - 

[The  queen's  writ  directing  that  the  plaintiff  have  right  concerning 
certain  lands  -wrongfully  held  by  the  defendant.] 

Matjldis  Anglie  regina,  Nigello  de  Albineio  salutem. 
Precipio  tibi,  ut  facias  Ranulpbo  episcopo  Dunelmensi 
habere  planum  rectum  de  Roberto  de  Muscams,  de  terris 
quas  occupavit  super  Sanctum  Cuthbertum,  et  super 
earn  de  Ros,  et  aliis  terris  quas  ipse  Robertus  occupavit 
post  concordiam,  que  facta  fuit  inter  Willielmum  episco- 
pum  et  comitem  Robertum  Northumberlandie,  sicut 
Ranulphus  episcopus  monstrare  poterit. 


[Godwin  v.  Robert.]  3 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  judgment  in  favour  of  Godwin  as  to  a 
cei'tain  church,  tithes,  and  cemetery.] 

Henricus  rex    Angliae    Roberto   episcopo    Cestrensi   et 

1  1  Monasticon,  241  (ed.  1816).  2  lb.  242. 

3  6  Monasticon  (part  2),  1043  (ed.  1846). 


138  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Nicholao  vicecomiti  de  StafTbrt  et  omnibus  baronibus 
Francis  ct  Ang-lis  de  Statfortsira  salutem.  Sciatis  quod 
Godwinus  monachus  de  Sancto  Remigio  de  Remis  ante 
me  et  barones  meos  apud  Tamewrdam  disrationavit 
ecclesiam  de  Lappeleya,  et  decimam  et  corpora  mortuo- 
rum  contra  Robertum  capellanum  raeum  de  Rotomago, 
sicut  Sanctus  Remigius  melius  tenuit  et  habuit  in  tempore 
regis  Edwardi  et  patris  ct  fratris  mei  "Willielmi  regis. 
Et  volo  quod  ista  et  omnes  alias  suas  res  bene  et  in  pace 
teneant  ipse  sanctus  et  monachi  sui.  Testibus  Roberto 
episcopo  Lincolniensi  et  R.  episcopo  Salesbirie  et 
"Willielmo  episcopo  Exoniae  et  Goisfri  Ridello  et  Aluredo 
de  Lincolia,  apud  Tame wordam . 


[Bishop  Robert  v.  "William  Peverell.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ   commanding  that  seisin  bo  given  the   plaintiff  of 
lands,  tithes,  customs,  meadows,  and  woods  at  P.] 

H.  rex  Ang-lorum,  R.  episcopo  de  Cestra,  et  Roberto  de 
Ferrariis,  et  Ricardo  filio  Gotse,  salutem.  Praecipio  vobis, 
ut  resaisiatis  Robertum  episcopum,  et  ecclesias  suas  de 
Pecco,  et  de  omnibus  rebus  in  terris  et  decimis  ct  con- 
suetudinibus,  el  pratis  et  silvis,  sicut  ipse  et  ecclesise 
saisiti  erant,  ea  die  qua  Willielmo  Peverell  dominium 
meum  de  Pecco  dedi ;  quia  sibi  nou  dedi  nihil  i\c  liiis, 
de  quibus  prsediclse  ecclesias  saisiti  erant.  Teste  comite 
de  Mellent,  apud  .... 

1   6  .  i  (part  3),  1272  (<  d.   L846). 


ii  i:\ry  i.  139 

[Bishop  Robert  v.  Men  op  W.] ' 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  all  who  hold  lands  within  the  wapen- 
take of  W.  to  come  to  the  bishop's  court,  and  there  do 
right  in  respect  of  the  lands  which  they  hold  of  him,  on  pain 
of  distraint.] 

II.  rex  Anglian  omnibus  baronibus,  et  vavasoribus,  et 
omnibus  dominis,  qui  terras  tenent  intra  Wellewapentac, 
salutem.  Prsecipio,  quod  omnes  veniatis  ad  placitum  et 
wapentacbium  episcopi  Lincoliensis  quod  de  me  tenet, 
per  summonitionem  ministrorum  suorum ;  et  faciatis  ei 
omnes  rectitudines,  et  consuetudines  in  omnibus  rebus, 
quas  eis  debetis,  de  terris  vestris  ad  illud  wapentachium ; 
ita  bene  et  plenarie,  sicut  unquam  plenius  fecistis  Ro- 
berto episcopo,  vel  alicui  antecessori  suo,  et  quas  juste 
facere  debetis :  et  nisi  feceritis  ipse  vos  j  usticiet  per 
pecuniam  vestram  donee  faciatis,  ne  perdam  pecuniam 
meam,  quarn  episcopus  mibi  inde  reddere  debet.  Teste 
episcopo  Sarum,  et  Gr.  cancellario,  apud  Fereham. 


[Bishop  Robert  v.  Lord  of  Stow.]  " 

[The  king's  writ  ordering  an  inquisition  as  to  the  boundary  between 
his  manor  of  T.  and  that  of  the  defendant,  and  the  laying  off  the 
same,  confirming  the  return  by  oath  if  needed.] 

H.  rex  Anglorum   Ranulfo  Mescbino   et  Osberto  vice- 

comiti,  et  Picoto  filio  Colsueni,  et  Wigoto  de  Lincolia, 

salutem.     Ita   et  videte  divisas  inter  manerium  meum 

de  Torcbesi  et  manerium  de  Estou;  et  facite  recognoscere 

per  probos  homines  de   comitatu   et  dividere  prsedictas 

divisas  :  et  si  bene  eis  non  credideritis,  sacramento  con- 

rirment  quod  dixerint;  quia  volo  ut  episcopus  bene  et 

bonorifice  ibi  habeat  quod  antecessores  sui  ibi  habuerunt. 

Teste  Wigoto  Liucoliensi,  apud  Wincestre. 

1  6  Monasticon  (part  3),  1272  (ed.  1846-.  lb.  1273. 


140  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  EXCHEQUER. 

[Waleuan,  Son  of  William.     31  Hen.   I.]1 

Et   idem  Waleranus  filius  Willelmi  reddit  compotum  de 
V.  s.  et  IX.  d.,  de  pecunia  cujusdam  victi  hominis. 


[William  of  St.  Edward.     31  Hen.  I.]a 

Willelmus  de  Sancto  Eduardo  et  Jordanns  filius  suus 
debent  X.  mavcas  argenti,  pro  recto  de  terra  Rogeri 
avuneuli  Jordani ;  et  si  poteriut  dirrationare,  dabunt  XX. 
marcas  argenti. 


[Tierricis,  Son  of  Roger.     31  Hen.  I.]3 

Tierricus  filius  Rogeri  Filioli  debet  X.  marcas  argenti, 
ut  habeat  rectum  de  hcereditate  sua ;  et  Adeliz  de  Dunc- 
stauvilla  est  inde  plegia. 


[Roger,  Son  of  Geoffrey.  31  Hen.  I.]4 

Rogerus  filius  Gaufridi   debet   X.   marcas  argenti,  at 
habeat  rectum  tic  achatis  patris  sui. 


i  Mador,  Hist.  Exch.  237  (fol.  cd.).  '  lb.  293. 

s  lb.  4  lb. 


HENRY    I.  141 

[Robert,  Son  of  Gerard.     31  Hen.  I.]1 

Robertus  filius  Gerardi  reddit  compotum  de  II.  uncus 
auri,  ut  posset  dirrationare  tcrram  suam  per  corpus 
suum  ;   in  thesauro  XXX.  s.  pro  II.  unciis  auri,  ct  quietus 

est. 


[Radulfus  Bafnage.     31  Hen.  I.]2 

Radulfus  Barnag-e  reddit  compotum  de  X.  marcis 
argenti,  ue  placitet  de  terra  sua  in  vita  sua ;  in  thesauro 
XL.  s.,  et  debet  VII.  marcas  argenti. 


[Robert  Giffard.     31  Hen.  I.] 3 

Robertus  Giffardus  reddit  compotum  de  I.  dextrario,  ne 
placitet  de  terra  quam  Ricardus  de  Holevveia  clamat 
versus  cum. 


[William  le  Lutre.     31  Hen.  I.]4 

Willelmus  le  Lutre,  et  Gaufridus  BuchereUus,  et 
Radulfus  filius  Herlevvini  reddunt  compotum  de  VI. 
marcis  auri,  ut  exeant  de  vicecomitatu  Loudouiao;  in 
thesauro  III.  marcas  auri,  et  debent  III.  marcas  auri. 


1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  291  (fol.  ed.).  2  lb.  309. 

:i  lb.  *  lb.  316. 


142  PLACITA      WCI.O-XOKMANNICA. 

[Judges  and  Jurors  of  York.  31  Hen.  I.]1 

Placita  W.  Espcc  et  Eustacbii  filii  Johannis  :  Judiccs 
et  juratores  Eboraciscira3  debeirt  C.  1.,  ut  non  amplius 
sint  jndices  nee  juratores. 


[Matthew  de  Vernun.     31  Hen.  I.]2 

Mathaeus  de  Vernun   debet  C.  modios  vim,  pro  con- 
cordia  duelli  fratris  sui. 


1  Mndox,  Hist.  Exch  316  (fol.  eel.).  2  lb.  325. 


STEPHEN. 

[Liberties  of  Abingdon.     1135  ?]' 

[The  king's  writ  confirming  the  liberties  of  Abingdon,  and  exempting 
the  church  from  being  impleaded,  except  before  himself.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Anglise,  justiciis,  vicecomitibus,  baroni- 
bus,  ministris,  et  omnibus  fldelibus  suis,  Francis  et 
Anglis,  de  Oxenefordscira  et  de  Berchescira,  salutem. 
Prsecipio  quod  abbas  et  monachi  Abbendonise  teneant  et 
habeant  omnes  terras,  et  homines  suos,  et  omnes  res 
suas,  ita  bene  et  in  pace,  et  honorifice,  et  libere,  et  quiete, 
sicut  tenuerunt  die  qua  rex  Henricus  fuit  vivus  et  mor- 
tuus,  et  die  qua  primum  coronatus  fui,  ne  super  hoc 
ponatur  inde  in  placitum  donee  veniam  in  provinciam ; 
quia  nolo  quod  placitent  nisi  coram  me.  Teste  Ricardo 
de  Luci ;  apud  Lundoniam. 


[Archbishop  of  Canterbury  v.  Abbot  of  Battel 
Abbey.     1139.]2 

[A  wreck  from  lands  of  the  plaintiff  having  gone  ashore  upon  lands 
of  the  defendant,  the  latter's  men  take  possession  of  it,  under 


1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  181  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  Chron.  Mon.  do  Bello,  65  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 


144  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

tho  ancient  law  of  wreck.1  This  law  had  been  modified  by  the 
late  king,  so  as  to  give  the  wreck  to  any  one  of  the  vessel  who 
escaped  the  disaster.  With  the  death  of  king  Eenry,  the  old 
law  was  deemed  to  have  revived.  The  plaintiff,  however,  acting 
miller  Henry's  law,  complains  in  the  king's  conrt,  before  the 
king,  that  the  defendant's  men  took  possession  of  the  wreck  by 
force;  that  is,  it  seems,  that  they  had  taken  it  by  force  from  the 
possession  of  some  one  from  the  vessel  who  had  survived  the 
shipwreck.  The  defendant  relies  on  tho  old  law  of  wreck,  con- 
tending t  hat  king  Henry's  modification  was  not  binding  after 
his  death  without  the  consent  of  the  barons.  The  defendant, 
however,  offers  to  waive  his  claim,  if  the  barons  present  will  con- 
sent to  adopt  attain  the  law  of  the  late  king.  This  they  refuse  to 
do.  Court  is  now  dissolved,  another  day  being  appointed  for  the 
trial.  The  defendant  appears  at  the  time,  and  (the  plaintiff  not 
appearing)  takes  judgment  by  default.  The  plaintiff  has  the 
default  set  aside,  and  summons  the  defendant  again.  The  parties 
appear,  and  the  defendant  obtains  judgment.] 

Sub  iisdem  itaque  diebus  tempestate  praevalente,  conti- 
git  navem  quandam,  variis  sumptibus  refertam,  do  Ru- 
menel,  terra  arehiepiscopi  Cantuariae,  supra  terrain 
ecclesiae  de  Bello  in  Dengemareis,  membro  de  Wi,  con- 
fractam,  hominibus  vix  evadentibus,  jactari.  Sciendum 
anient  est  hoc  pro  lege  ab  antiquitate  per  maris  littora 
observatum,  ut,  navi  fluctibus  contrita,  si  evadentes 
infra  statutum  terminum  et  tempus  earn  minime  re- 
parassent,  navis  e1  qusecumque  appulsa  forent  absque 
calumpnia  in  dominium  terra1  illius,  et  in  werec  cede- 
rent.  Sed  supramemoratus  rex  Henricus  banc  abhor  - 
rens  consuetudinem,  tempore  suo,  per  imperii  sui  spalia, 
edictum  proposuit,  quatinus  si  vel  unus  e  navi  con- 
fracta  vivus  evasisset,  luce  omnia  obtineret.  Verum 
quo  novus  rex  cedit,  et  nova  lex.  Nam  defuncto  eo, 
regni  primores,  edicto  recenti  pessundato,  morem  an- 
fciquitus  observatum  sibimet  usurparunt.  1  nde  factum 
est,  ui   homines  de    Dengemareis    secundum    maritimas 

Abbot  Gausfrid  y.  The  King's  Collectors,  ante,  p.  86. 


STEPHEN.  145 

consuetudines,  et  regales  dignitates  ecclesiae  Belli,  prse- 
dictum  werec  vi  obtinerent.  Quo  agnito,  archiepis- 
copus  curiam  adiens,  coram  rege,  do  abbate  do  Bello, 
quod  in  hac  re  vi  et  hostilitate  usus  fuissct,  queri- 
moniam  fecit.  Nee  mora,  rex  abbatem  mandans  coram 
se  venire  fecit.  Quibus  a  conventu  nobilium  apud 
regiam  ventilatis  curiam,  cum  studio  et  arte  "Willclmi 
de  Ypra,  qui  Cantiae  comitatum  tunc  possidebat,  rex 
quoque  archiepiscopo  favens,  abbatem  ut  pacis  trans- 
gressorem  argueret,  quod  scilicet  contra  regis  Henrici 
sancita  fecisset,  post  plurimam  utrinque  controversiam, 
tandem  sic  curia  sedatur.  Nam  abbas,  ratione  usus 
praemeditata,  regem  Henricum  pro  libitu  antiqua  patriae 
jura  mutare  in  diebus  suis  posse  testificatus  est,  sed  non 
nisi  communi  baronum  regni  consensu  in  posterum  rata 
fore.  Unde  si  id,  unde  calumniabatur,  suae  dignitatis 
compatriotae,  barones  scilicet  qui  aderant  cum  regalis 
curiae  assensu  concessissent,  et  ipse  libens  cederet. 
Cumque  praesentes  regni  primores  haec  uno  ore  contra- 
dicerent,  in  communi  tandem  decretum  est,  ut  eadem 
soluta  curia,  abbas  regia  dignitate  hinc  suam  nactus 
curiam,  apud  Dengemareis  die  denominato  bominibus 
arcbiepiscopi  advenientibus,  omnem  rectitudinem  teneret. 
Sed  in  boc  conventu  verbum  memoriale  quo  magis 
regius  emollitus  est  animus  providum  dixisse  abbatem 
contigit.  Nam  cum  argueretur,  ad  regem  conversus 
intulit :  "Nunquam,"  inquiens,  "te  diutius,  O  rex, 
coronam  Angliae  ferre  Deo  sit  placitum,  si  tantillam 
ecclesiae  nostrae  libertatem,  a  rege  Willelmo  et  ab  aliis 
antecessoribus  tuis  regibus  datam  et  observatam  de- 
struxeris/'  Arerum  abbate  diem  constitutum  observante, 
ante  diem  sequentem  ex  parte  archiepiscopi  nullus  adve- 
nit.     Unde  transgrcssionis  judicio  obmutescentes,  cum 

L 


146  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

frustrati  discessissent,  iterum  ad  regias  aurcs  hujus  rei 
querimonia  ab  archiepiscopo  delata  est.  Abbas  itorum 
mandatus  advenit,  causisque  expositis  a  communi  con- 
cessu  adjudicatum  est,  abbatem  suam  causam  dirationasse, 
nee  ab  archiepiscopo  hinc  aliquam  calumpniam  ulterius 
pati  debere. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  Archdeacon  of  Canter- 
bury.    1141.] ' 

[The  king's  writ  of  right  concerning  the  church  at  Newington.] 
Stephanus,  rex  Anglorum,  archidiacono  Cantuarise,  salu- 
tem.  Prsecipio  tibi  quod  sine  dilatione  et  escampa  teneas 
plenum  rectum  abbati  Sancti  Augustini  et  monaehis  de 
ecclesia  de  Newyntone ;  ne  super  hoc  inde  clamorem 
audiam.  Teste  Roberto  filio  Walteri,  apud  Westmonas- 
terium. 


[Monks  of  St.  Augustine.     1141.]5 

[Tho  king's  writ  directing  that  the  monks  of  St.  Augustino  bo  per- 
mitted to  rebuild  a  mill.] 

Stepiianus,  rex  Anglorum,  Willelmo  de  Ipra  et  minis- 
tris  et  burgensibus  Cantuariai,  salutem.  Pracipio  quod 
monachi  Sancti  Augustini  restituant  molendinum  suum 

'   Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  381  (Roc.  Com.).  "  lb. 


STEPHEN.  11-7 


intra  Cantiiariam  in  eodem  situ,  quo  erat  quando  de- 
structum  Fuitj  ne  super  hoc  aliquis  cos  hide  disturbet. 
Teste  Warnero  de  Lusore,  apud  Cantiiariam. 


[Estate  of  Ranulf  Peverell.     1H2.]1 

[Record  of  judgment  obtained  by  the  church  of  St.  Paul  of  L  melon  (?) 
upon  inquisition  as  to  certain  land  of  E.P.    bi  '  bishop 

of  London,  the  barons  and  "  legal  men"  of  the  church,  rcbgious 
and  lay.] 

R.  Dei  gratia  Lundoniensis  episcopus,  dilectis  in  Christo 
filiis  decano  et  arebidiaconis  et  toti  capitulo  Sancti 
Pauli,  et  omnibus  baronibus  Sancti  Pauli,  et  omnibus 
fidelibus  et  filiis  Sanctse  Ecclesiae  per  episcopatum  Lon- 
doniensem  constitutis,  salutem.  Sciant  omnes  tarn  prae- 
sentes  quam  futuri,  quoniam  in  audientia  et  prsesentia 
nostra  per  barones  nostros  et  per  leg-ales  homines  ecclesiae 
nostra?  clericos  et  laicos,  evidenter  et  sine  omni  ambigui- 
tate  inquisitum  et  recognitum  est,  quoniam  Rannulfus 
Peurellus,  cujus  corpus  in  nostra  requiescit  ecclesia,  dedit 
Deo  et  Sancto  Paulo,  pro  salute  animae  sua?,  in  perpetuam 
elemosynam  terrain  qua?  vocatur  Edburghetona,  ad  usum 
luminaris  ecclesia? — terram  praefatam  Deo  et  Sancto 
Paulo  et  decano  et  capitulo,  ad  eundem  usum  luminaris 
ad  quod  data  est,  tanquam  suam  propriam  gratanter 
concedimus.  Datum  Lundonia?  anno  incarnacionis 
Dominica?  MCXLII.,  episcopatus  nostri  primo ;  praesen- 
tibus,  fratribus  et  filiis  nostris  Radulfo  decano,  et  Ri- 
cardo  Ruffo,  et  Ricardo  Balmeis,  et  Ailwordo  arebidia- 
conis, Rogero  Bruno  dapifero,  Willelmo  de  Hoccend.,  et 
"VVillelmo  filio  ejus,  et  Osberto  Masculo,  et  Laurentio 
Buccuinte,  in  solempnitate  Paschali. 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  134  (fol.  ed.). 
L    2 


1-18  placita   anglo-normannica. 

[Church  of  St.  Augustine  of  Canterbury.     1143.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  church  of  St.  Augustine  have 
peaceable  possession  of  certain  land  devised  by  G.  in  the  pre- 
sence of  legal  witnesses.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Anglorum,  vicecomitibus  et  justiciariis 
de  Kent;  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  faciatis  habere  eccle- 
sise  Sancti  Augustini  et  monacliis  hag-am  suam,  quam 
Gosceoldus  eis  dedit,  ita  bene,  et  in  pace,  et  juste,  et 
quiete,  et  libere  sicut  earn  eis  dedit  in  morte  sua  coram 
legalibus  testibus.  Et  videte  ne  inde  clamorem  audiam 
pro  recti  vel  justitise  penuria;  quia  nolo  quod  ecclesia 
ilia  quicquid  perdat  de  jure  suo.  Teste  Rogero  cancel - 
lario,  apud  Cantuariam. 


[Abbot  of  Abingdon  v.  Jordan  de  Podiis.     1143?]  s 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  plaintiff  be  permitted  to  hold  in 
peace  his  hundred  and  tenures.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  Jordano  de  Podiis,  salutem. 
Praecipio  iibi,  quod  permittatis  abbatem  de  Abbendonia 
tenere  hundredum  suum,  ct  omnes  tenuras  suas,  bene  et 
in  pace,  sicut  melius  tenuit  tempore  regis  Henrici,  et 
sicut  carta?  regum  testantur,  quas  inde  habet,  et  cum 
omnibus  libertatibus  suis.  Teste  A.  clerico ;  apud 
Sanctum  Albanum. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  382  (Reo.  Com.). 

2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  182  (Rec.  Com.). 


STEPHEN.  149 

[Abbey  of  Abingdon.     1144  ?]' 

[The  king's  grant  and  writ  directing  that  the  plaintiff  hold  certain 
land  in  peace.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  Willelmo  Martel,  et  omnibus 
fidelibus  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem.  Sciatis  quia 
reddidi  et  concessi  Deo,  et  abbatiae  et  monachis  de  Ab- 
bendonia,  terram  suam  de  Wisselega  et  de  Winkefeld ; 
et  terra  ilia,  et  omnes  alias  terra?  suae,  et  omnes  res  sua?, 
sunt  in  mea  tutela  et  protectione.  Quare  volo  et  prse- 
eipio  quod  sint  bene,  et  in  pace,  ita  ne  quisquarn  eis 
forisfaciat,  nee  quicquara  inde  capiat.  Quia  volo  quod 
omnes  res  suae  sint  ita  bene  custoditae  sicut  mea?  dominicae, 
in  omnibus  rebus.  Teste  Adam  de  Belnio ;  apud 
Oxeneford. 


[Abbot  of  Abingdon.     1144?]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  church  of  St.  Mary  be  exempt 
from  toll,  passage,  and  customs] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  justiciis,  et  vicecoinitibus,  et 
baronibus,  et  omnibus  ministris,  et  fidelibus  suis  Angliae 
et  portuum  maris,  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  totum  cor- 
redium,  et  omnes  res  abbatis  et  monachorum  Sanctse 
Mariae  de  Abbendonia,  quas  homines  sui  affidaverint  suas 
esse  proprias,  sint  quietae  de  theloneo,  et  pasnagio,  et 
omni  consuetudine,  ne  super  haec  injuste  disturbentur, 
super  X.  libras  forisfactui*ae.  Testibus  Willelmo  de  Ipra 
et  Ricardo  de  Luci. 

"  2  Hist    Mon.  Abiugd.  182  (Rec.  Com.).  *  lb. 


150  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  Gilbert  v.   Eael  Gilbert  and  Pagan,  a 
Clerk.     1145.]  l 

[Deposition  of  Bernard  that  ho  saw  and  heard  K.  G.  give  two  churches 
in  i lie  abbot  of  Gloucester,  and  that  king  Henry  confirmed  tho 
gift.] 

Venerabili  domino  Alexandro,  Lincolniensis  ecclesiiu 
episcopo,  cseterisque  dilectis  in  Chvisto  fratribus  ecclesia- 
rum  totins  Angliae,  tarn  prselatis  quam  subditis,  Ber- 
nardus_,  ecclesiam  Sancti  Davidis  minister  humilis,  salutem 
in  Domino.  Caritati  vestrse  notum  facimus,  et  quia  ad 
praesens  verbo  non  possumus,  scripto  testamur,  nos  prae- 
sentes  affuisse,  hoc  etiam  vidisse  et  audisse,  quod  Robertus 
Gernun  dedit  Sancto  Petro,  et  Petro  abbati  de  Glouces- 
tria,  et  monacliis  ejus,  ecclesiam  de  Wirecesburia,  et 
ecclesiam  de  Laverkestoke,  et  omnia  quae  ad  easdem 
ecclesias  pert  incut,  et  dimidium  molendinum,  et  medie- 
tatem  terra'  qua?  ad  illud  pertinet.  Hoc  quidem  vidimus 
et  testamur.  Scimus  etiam  quod  rex  Henricus  dona- 
tionem  illam  concessit,  et  carta  sua  confirmavit.  Vidimus 
etiam  quod  domina  mea  Matilda  regina  ipsum  Robert um 
Gernun  usque  ad  altare  Sancti  Petri  Gloucestriae  con- 
duxit,  ubi  ipse,  astante  regina,  pluribusque  aliis,  per 
cultellum  super  altare  donationem  illam  confirmavit. 

[Record  of  adjudication  in  a  public  synod.] 

Quoniam  ca,  qua?  ad  utilitatem  ecclesiam  spectant, 
diligenter  providere  et  efBcaciter  implore,  credita  nobis 
dispensatione,  debemus,  ideo  ego  David,  Buginghamise 
Dei  gratia  archidiaconus,  tain  praesenti  setati  quam 
futurae  post  iritati  quod  de  causa  abbatis  et  raonachorum 
Gloucestriae  in  praesentia  nostra  actum  est  de  ecclesiis 
de  \\  irecesbiria  et  Langeleya  praesenti  scripto  notificare 

_'  ( Ihron.  Mon,  ( Houc.  LG6    Rec.  Com.). 


STEPHEN. 


151 


curavi.  Causa  igitur  hac  in  publica  synodo  in  medium 
deducta,  prsedictas  illas  duas  ecclesias  ecclesiso  Glouces- 
trire  donatas  fuisse  rationabiliter  tarn  cartarum  confirma- 
tione  quam  prsesentis  synodi  attestatione  cognovimus, 
unde  ipsam  per  cujusdam  violentam  intrusionem  injuste 
spoliatam  audientes,  cum  intrusum  ilium  ssepius  ad  jus- 
titiam  vocavissemus,  nee  ille  nee  aliquis  pro  eo  se  jus- 
titise  praesentaverit,  investituram  earundem  ecclesiarum 
abbati  et  ecclesiae  Gloucestrise  adjudicavimus,  et  per 
claves  ipsarum  ecclesiarum  eum  in  possessionem  earun- 
dem totius  synodi  nostrse  adjudicatione  induximus. 

[Confirmation  by  Theobald.] 

Theobaldus,  Dei  gratia  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopus, 
Anglorum  primas,  et  Apostolic®  Sedis  legatus,  dilectis 
sibi  in  Domino  omnibus  Sanctse  Matris  Ecclesia?  filiis, 
salutem  in  Domino  et  benedictionem.  Incolumitati 
ecclesiarum,  et  paci  providentes,  ea  quae  ecclesiis  ipsis 
bonorum  principum  largitione  vel  rationabili  quorum- 
cunque  executione  adquiruntur  pia  ipsis  benignitate, 
concedimus,  et  auctoritate  nostra  confirmamus.  Audi- 
entes  itaque  ecclesiam  de  Wirecesburia,  et  ecclesiam  de 
Langeleia,  ecclesire  Beati  Petri  Gloucestrise  jam  diu 
donatas  rationabiliter,  et  hoc  plenius  ex  carta  regia  et 
cartis  venerabilium  episcoporum  Roberti,  scilicet  epis- 
copi  quondam  Lincolniensis,  et  Alexandri,  successoris 
ejusdem,  et  reverendi  fratris  nostri  Bernardi,  episcopi 
Sancti  David,  cognoscentes,  deinde  cum  quidam  se  in 
easdem  ecclesias  intruserit,  easdem  ecclesias  et  in  publica 
synodo  ecclesise  Beati  Petri  adjudicatas,  ex  carta  Davidis 
arcbidiaconi  Bukinghamia?  et  synodi  illius  attestatione 
cognoscentes,  et  plenius  rescientes,  ipsi  ecclesise  Beati 
Petri  Gloucestrise   in  earundem  ecclesiarum  possessione 


152  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNK    .. 

plenum  nostra  auctoritatis  robur  concedimus,  et  praefataa 
eeclesias  ipsi  ecclesise  Gloucestriae  prsesenti  scripto  in 
perpetuum  confirmamus. 

[Another  and  more  valuable  record  of  this  litigation,  written  by 
the  plaintiff,  abbot  Gilbert,  after  he  had  become  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
is  also  given  in  the  same  connexion.     It  is  as  follows  : — J 

Dilectis  sibi  in  Domino  universis  Sanctse  Ecclesise  filiis, 
frater  Gilbertus,  Londoniensis  ecclesise  minister,  salutem 
quae  nunc  est,  et  quam  speramus  a  Domino.  Elabuntur 
tempora,  et  in  oblivionem  multa  pertrahunt,  quse  nisi 
scriptis  excipiantur,  ad  memoriam  non  facile  reducnntur. 
Inde  est  quod  universitati  vestrse  prsesenti  notifico,  me, 
dum  curam  Gloucestrensis  ecclesise,  permittente  Domino, 
adrninistrarem,  in  inquirendis  et  requirendis  ejus  posses- 
sionibus  ex  officii  suscepti  debitodebitam  sollicitudincm  ad- 
hibuisse,  et  tarn  ex  cartarum  quarundam  inspectione  quam 
totius  etiam  conventus  Gloucestria^aliarumque  personarum 
quamplurimum  attestatione,  manifeste  cognovisse  Rober- 
tum  Gernun,  dum  villain  dc  Wirecesburia  et  villain  de 
Laverkestoke  pleno  jure  et  integro  dominio  possideret, 
priusquam  Honor  ille,  qui  dudum  fuit  Hoberti  Gernun,  ad 
Willelmum  de  Muntfichet  patrem  Gilberti  de  Muntfichet 
devolutus  essetj  eeclesias  jam  dictarum  villarum  Wireces- 
biriae  scilicet,  et  Laverkestoke,  ecclesise  beatri1  Petri  de 
Gloucestria  concessisse,  et  regem  Henricum  primum  banc 
ejusdonationem,sub  multa  nobilium -regni  sui  attestatione, 
'  carta  sua  et  sigillo  corroborasse.  Attendens  itaque  et 
multorum  attestatione  cognoscens  ecclesiam  Gloucestria?, 
cui  tunc  prseeram,  memoratas  eeclesias  a  tempore  regis 
Henrici  usque  ad  tempus  regis  Stephani,  quo  pax  t'egni 
turbata  est,  possedisse,  dominum  etiam  Lincolniensem 
ad  abbatis    et    conventus   Gloucestria?    praesentationem 

!     1„ 


STEPHEN.  153 

viearios  ineis  instituisse,  ipsos  etiam  ab  biis  ad  arbitrium 
suum  pensiones  annuas  suscepisse,  cum  occasione  cladis 
bellicae  commissa?  mibi  ecclesias  possessio  in  ecclesiis  jam 
dictis  turbata  fuisset  per  Gilbertum  comitem  jam  dicti 
Gilberti  avunculum  qui  tunc  ejus  praeerat  patrimonio  illi, 
tutelem  exbibens,  qui  ecclesias  jam  dictas  auctoritate  sua 
in  quendam  Londoniensem  elericum  Paganum  nomine 
contulerat  ad  dominum  Lincolniensem,  adversus  jam 
dictum  comitem  et  memoratum  Paganum  querelam 
detuli,  eommissa3  mihi  ecclesias  justitiam  postulans  ex- 
biberi.  Cujus  auctoritate,  apud  Eilesburiam,  per  Davidem 
arcbidiaconuni  de  Bukingbam  synodo  publice  convocata, 
statuto  mibi  die  instructus  affui,  qua?  supra  sunt  memo- 
rata  proposui,  bona?  memoriae  Bernard^  dudum  Mene- 
vensis  episcopi,  multarumque  ipsius  synodi  personarum 
munitus  testimonio,  memoratas  ecclesias  synodali  judicio 
reportavi.  In  quas  cum  Gloucestrensis  ecclesias  nomine 
agens  episcopali  auctoritate  inductus  fuerim,  ipsa  easdem 
in  eo  recuperavit  obsequio  et  episcopali  auctoritate  per 
me  et  successorem  meum  usque  in  prassens  tempus  ob- 
tinuit.  Cui  in  jam  dictis  ecclesiis  cum  totum  collatum, 
et  quod  potestas  laica  et  quod  episcopalis  dignitas  con- 
feree potest,  justum  videri  potest  ecclesias  jam  dictas  sibi 
in  pace  dimitti,  et  possessionem  ejus  querelis  juvenis 
longe  post  nati  non  debere  convelli.    Valeatis. 

[The  following  are  the  original  grant  and  confirmation  above  re- 
ferred  to : — ] l 

Sciant  prassentes  et  futuri,  quod  ego  Robertus  Gernon, 
pro  salute  animse  mese  et  omnium  antecessorum  meornm, 
dedi  et  concessi  Deo,  et  Sancto  Petro,  et  monachis  Glou- 
cestrias,  ecclesiam  de  Wirecesbury  et  de  Laverkestoke,  et 

1  2  Chi'oii.  Mon.  Glouc.  164  (Eec.  Com.).     . 


154  PLACITA    AXGLO-XOUMANNICA. 

omnia  qua?  ad  easdem  ecclesias  pertinent,  et  dimidium 
moleudinum,  et  medietatem  terra?  qua?  ad  illud  pertinet, 
liberas  et  quietas  ab  omni  exactione  et  consuetudine  et 
servitio  quod  ad  me  pertinet  et  ad  haeredes  meos,  in  per- 
petuam  elemosinam.     Testibus,  etc.1 

Henrieus,  rex  Anglia?,  Roberto  episcopo  Lincolniensi/ 
et  Hugoni  de  Bochinghamia,  et  omnibus  baronibus, 
Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Middelsexa,  salutem.  Sciatis  me 
concessisse  Sancto  Petro  de  Gloucestria,  et  Petro  abbati 
et  monacliis  suis  de  Gloucestria,  ecclesiam  de  Wireces- 
bury,  et  ecclesiam  de  Laverkestou,  quas  Robertus  German 
eis  dedit,  et  omnia  qua?  ad  easdem  ecclesias  pertinent,  et 
dimidium  molendinum,  et  medietatem  terra?  qua?  ad 
illud  pertinet.  Et  volo  et  pra?cipio  ut  bene  et  bonorifice 
teneant.     Teste  Matilda  regina. 

[Later,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  Gilbert  of  Montefichet  appears 
to  have  asserted  his  claim  anew,  the  following  writ  being  issued : — ]  3 

Henrieus,  rex  Ang-lia?,  dux  Normannia?  et  Aquitania?, 
et  comes  Andegavia?,  Gilberto  de  Montefiebet,  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  quod  permittas  monachos  Gloucestria? 
tenere  in  pace,  et  libere,  et  bonorifice,  et  juste,  decimas 
et  beneficia  ccclesiarum  suarum  de  Wirecesbury,  et  de 
Langeleia.  Et  nisi  feceris,  justiciarius  meus  faciat  fieri. 
Teste  cancellario. 

[This  was  obeyed,  and  the  following  grant  mado  : — ]  4 
Comes    Gilbertus,  omnibus  baronibus  et  hominibus  de 
bonore  Willelmi  de  Mundfichet,  Francis  et  Anglis,  sa- 
lutem.    Sciatis    me    reddidisse    monacliis    Gloucestria', 
tanquam   suum   rectum,    ecclesiam    de  Wirecesbury,  et 

i  Sic. 

2  Died  111':!.      Id    had  been  chancellor  under  William  II.,  andjus- 
iciar  under  t  he  present    Henry  I. 

2  i  in  ..i.  .Mm,.  Glouc.  L65  (Rec.  Com.).  *   lb. 


STEPHEN.  155 

ecclesiam  de  Lang-eleia,  cum  hominibus,  et  terris,  et 
decimis,  et  cum  omnibus  ad  ecclesias  istas  pertinentibus. 
Has  ig-itur  ecclesias  volo  et  praecipio  ut  bene,  et  honorifice, 
et  libere,  et  quiete  teneant,  ita  quod  nullus  eis  injuriam 
neque  contumeliam  faciat.  Teste  Stephano  de  Ca- 
meis,  etc.1 

A  confirmation  by  the  king  is  also  given,  in  the   same  language, 
substantially,  as  that  by  Henry  I.,  supra. 


[Monks  of  Basselech   and   Picot,  Chaplain   of    St. 
Gundley.     1146.]2 

[Record  of  a  judgment  concerning  a  certain  chapel,  its  tithes,  and 
cemetery ;  trial  before  the  bishop  of  Llandaff.j 

M./  Dei  gratia  Landavensis  episcopus,  omnibus  paro- 
chianis  suis  et  amicis  clericis  et  laicis  in  Christo,  salutem 
et  benedictionem.  Notum  vobis  facio  controversiam  et 
dissensionem,  quae  inter  monaclios  de  Basselech  et  Pico- 
tum  capellanum  Sancti  Gundlei  de  terminis  parocliiarum 
suarum  habebatur,  in  mei  praesentia  terminatam  et  diffi- 
nitam  fuisse  ;  hac  videlicet  consideration  quod  capella 
Sanctae  Gladewis  quam  Landomerus  super  fluvium 
Eboth  aedificavit,  et  omnes  decimae  ab  eodem  fluvio 
usque  ad  fluvium  Uschse,  et  a  terminis  terrae  Willelmi 
de  Bercherola  usque  ad  mare,  et  corpora  omnia  defunc- 
torum  ecclesiae  Sancti  Gundlei  libera  et  quieta  remanent. 
Et  ilia  decima  quam  Landomerus  ex  alia  parte  Eboth  de 
terra  sua  ecclesiae  Sancti  Gundlei  dederat,  ecclesiae  Sancti 
Basilii  remanet.     Testibus  Abraham  capellano  episcopi, 

1   Sic.  2  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  55  (Rec,  Com.). 

I'litiid  was  bishop  of  Llandaif  in  11  16. 


156  PLACITA    AXGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Urbano  saccrdote,  Galfrido  sacerdote  nepote  episcopi,  et 
magistri  Johannc,  etc.,  apud  Basselecli.  Et  teste  tota 
synodo  apud  Landaviam  anno  ab  Incarnatione  Domini 
millesimo  centesimo  quadragesimo  sexto. 


[Liberties  of  Abingdon.     1146.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  the  ahbot  of  Abingdon  from  being  im- 
pleaded, except  before  himself,  the  king.] 

Stephanus,  res  Anglise,  justiciis  et  vicecomitibus,  et 
baronibuSj  et  ministris,  et  omnibus  fidelibus  suis,  Francis 
et  Anglis,  de  Oxeneford  et  de  Berchesira,  salutem. 
Sciatis  quia  warrantizo  abbati  Abbendoniae  ne  ipse  vel 
bomines  sui  placitent  de  aliquo  placito  quod  pertineat  ad 
coronam  meam,  nisi  coram  me,  et  quando  ero  apud 
Oxenefordam.  Teste  "Willielmo  de  Ipra;  apud  Lon- 
doniam. 


[Abbot  Walter  v.  Bishop  of  Chichester.     Ecclesias- 
tical.    1148.]- 

[The  bishop  of  Chichester  persists  in  attempting  to  subject  t  be  abbot 
of  Battel  to  his  authority,  and  lays  him  under  an  interdict  unless 
be  will  attend  a  Bynod  ai  Chichester.  The  abboi  complains  of 
this  before  the  Bang's  Court;  whereupon  the  king  forbids  the 
ip  to  di  fcurb  bhe  abbot,  and  fixes  a  day  for  hearing  the  mat- 
ter, with  his  bishops  and  barons.  The  parties  attend,  but  many 
di  Ikt  litigations  coming  on  before  this  one,  it  happens    thai    bhe 

i  2  Hist.  M<  ii.  Abingd.  LSI  (Rec.  Com.). 
Chron.  Won.  do  Hello,  70  (Aug.  Chi 


STEPHEN.  157 

bishop  of  C.  is  not  present  when  it  is  reached.     The  abbot  pre- 
3  his  case,  and  obtains  judgment  of  freedom  from  tho  juris- 
diction of  the  bishop.] 

Quotum  igitur  praedicti  Stephani  piissimi  principis 
tempore,  synodum  apud  Cicestriam  adire  abbas  summo- 
nitus,  nee  veniens,  interdictus  est  ab  episcopo,  eo  tamen 
tenore,  quod  si  infra  XL.  dierum  spatium  satisfacturus 
non  veniretj  ab  officio  suo  suspensus  cessaret.  Quod 
abbas  audiens  curiam  apud  Sanctum  Albanum  adiit 
praepropere,  atque  baec  regise  intulit  aula3.  Rex  itaque, 
accersito  quodam  clericorum  suorum  Rotberto  de  Cornu- 
villa  nomine,  misit  ad  episcopum,  mandans  et  praecipiens 
quatinus  ecclesiam  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello  sicut  domini- 
cam  regis  capellam,  et  regiam  coronam,  ab  omni  exactione 
et  oppressione  liberam  et  quietam  Cliristo  Domino 
pacifice  sineret  deservire.  Terminum  etiam  ei  prsefixitj 
quatinus  die  octavarum  Sancti  Andreae,  ipse  et  abbas 
Lundoniam  venirent,  ut  ibi  dissensioni  eorumdem  coram 
se,  episcopis,  et  baronibus  suis  pra3sentibus  finem  impo- 
neret.  Die  constituta  uterque  afFuit.  Multis  igitur 
causis  ibidem  discussis,  abbas  regi  praesentiam  suam  ex- 
hibuit,  paratus,  si  quis  eidem  quicquam  obicere  vellet, 
justa  rationis  aequitate  pro  libertate  ecclesiae  suae  resistere. 
Episcopus  vero  nonnullis  ibidem  detentus  negotiis, 
coram  rege  die  eadem  venire  distulit.  Lectis  igitur 
coram  rege  cartis  et  munitionibus  de  hac  eadem  re,  a 
rege  Willelmo  magno  subseriptis,  rex  altiori  usus  consilio 
praecepit  ecclesiam  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello  ab  omni 
subjectione  et  exactione  Cicestrensis  episcopi,  secundum 
regis  Willelmi  et  aliorum  regum  praedecessorum  suorum 
cartas,  liberam  omnino  existere. 

In  the  first  year  of  the  following  reign   (a.d.  1155)  the  bishop  of 
Chichester  renews   his   attempt  to  subject   the   abbot  of  Battel  to 


158  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

himself,  and  a  great  litigation  follows.  The  king  confirms  the 
liberties  of  Battel,  among  many  other  confirmations.  These  liberties 
made  St.  Martin  independent  of  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury.  The 
bishop  of  Chichester  informs  the  latter  of  the  facts  ;  whereupon  the 
archbishop  seeks  to  have  the  charters  annulled,  and  is  at  first  partly 
successful.  The  abbot,  hearing  of  this,  protests  before  the  king,  and 
prevails  upon  him  to  order  his  seal  to  be  attached  to  the  charter  of 
confirmation,  which,  it  seems,  had  not  yet  been  done.  The  bishop  of 
Chichester  appears  at  this  moment  and  protests,  but  the  king  orders 
the  seal  to  be  attached.  He  then  orders  the  parties  to  meet  at 
Lambeth  to  hear  the  charter  read,  and  to  suggest  any  amendments. 
The  chancellor  (Thomas  k  Becket)  attends,  bringing  the  charter,  but 
the  meeting  ends  in  confusion,  and  the  chancellor  returns  to  the  king 
with  the  charter.  The  king  finally  delivers  the  charter  to  the  abbot. 
The  bishop  of  Chichester  now  transfers  his  case  to  the  pope,  sum- 
mons the  abbot  on  papal  authority  to  Chichester,  and  (the  abbot 
appearing)  reads  letters  from  the  pope  to  the  abbot,  commanding 
him  to  bo  subject  to  the  bishop.  The  court  again  breaks  up  in  con- 
fusion,  without  result,  and  the  abbot  now  procures  the  king  to  sum- 
mon the  bishop  by  writ,  and  thereby  command  him  to  desist  from  his 
purpose  till  the  king's  return  to  England  from  a  visit  to  Normandy, 
where  he  then  was.  On  his  return,  tho  king  summons  the  parties, 
but  the  cause  is  not  finally  taken  up  until  in  1157.  The  king  then 
calls  to  himself  his  chancellor  (a  Becket)  and  others  to  hear  the  cause. 
The  abbot's  brother,  Richard  de  Lucy,  appears  for  St.  Martin,  and 
opens  the  case,  and  has  tho  charters  read  by  the  chancellor.  Tho 
king  inspects  them  closely.  The  chancellor  takes  an  active  part, 
calling  upon  tho  abbot  to  answer  certain  arguments  previously  made 
by  the  bishop  of  Chichester.  Richard  de  Lucy  replies,  after  answer 
both  by  tho  abbot  and  by  the  king.  Court  adjourns,  and  is  after- 
wards resumed,  attended  by  an  increased  number  of  judges.  De 
Lucy  makes  another  speech,  and  alludes  to  the  company  as  "all  this 
assembly  of  Normans."  The  abbot  then  speaks.  The  bishop  replies, 
denying  the  right  of  tho  king  to  confer  or  take  away  ecclesiastical 
liberties;  at  which  the  king  becomes  very  angry.  Tho  chancellor 
cautions  the  bishop,  who  then  apologizes,  and  proceeds,  though  not 
without  interruptions  by  the  court.  Tho  king  then  speaks.  The 
abbot  follows,  and  produces  tho  Conqueror's  charier,  which  tho  king 
says  he  must  defend  as  his  own  royal  prerogative.  Judgment  is  de- 
livered by  the  chancellor  in  favour  of  the  abbot.  The  archbishop 
wishes  to  rctiro  with  tho  ecclesiastics  to  determine  certain  matters 
arising  at  tho  close  of  tho  trial,  according  to  ecclesiastical  custom. 
But  the  king  refuses,  sa}'ing  "  I  shall  decide."  Tho  bishop  disclaims 
authority  over  tho  abbot;  tho  archbishop  intercedes  for  the  latter  j 
the  parties  are  all  reconciled  ;  and  the  court  is  dissolved.  The  judges 
present,  besides  tho  king,  wero  Theobald,  archbishop  of  Canterbury ; 
Roger,  archbishop   of  York  ;    Robert,  bishop   of  Lincoln ;   Silvester, 


STEPHEN.  159 

abbot  of  St.  Augustine  ;  Robert,  earl  of  Leicester  ;  Henry  of  Essex, 
the  king's  tiilmuc;  Richard,  bishop  of  London;  Robert,  bishop  of 
Exeter;  Gausfrid,  abbot  of  Holme  ;  Thomas,  the  king's  chancellor; 
Patrick,  earl  of  Salisbury ;  Richard  do  Lucy,  Reginald  do  Warcnne, 
and  Warin  Fitzgerald. 


[Men  of  Canterbury.     1148.]1 

[The  king's  writ  prohibiting  interference  with  the  men  of  Canterbury 
in  going  to  or  coming  from  mill.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Ang-lorum,  vicecomitibus  et  prsepositis 
et  burgensibus  et  omnibus  fidelibus  suis  Cantuariae, 
salutem.  Prohibeo  ne  aliquis  prohibeat  quin  homines 
civitatis  Cantuarise  et  provincia?  eant  et  veniant  ad 
molendinum,  quod  concessi  et  dedi  Deo  et  ecclesise  Sancti 
Augustini  infra  civitatem  Cantuariae,  cum  blado  suo  ad 
molandum,  ita  bene  et  plenarie  sicut  melius  et  plenius 
solebant  facere  tempore  regis  Henrici  avunculi  mei,  et 
meo  tempore  postea,  dum  molendinum  prsedictum  in  mea 
manu  fuit.     Teste  Roberto  de  Ver,  apud  Cantuariam. 


CASES  OF    LESS    CERTAIN    DATE    OF    THIS 
REIGN. 

[Canons   of   St.   Martin  v.  The  King  and  Walter 
Long.]2 

[Writ   of  the  earl  of  Essex  commanding  A.  de  G.  to  restore  to  the 
plaintiff  property  of  his  which  the  king's  men  had  earned  off; 


1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  383  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  74  (fol.  ed.). 


160  ,1  ACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

also  to  cause  au  inquisition  as  to  certain    lands  of  which   the 
plaintiff's  allege  the  defendant  W.  has  disseised  them.] 

Geoffrey  comes  de  Essexa,  Aelardo  de  Guerris  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  quod  omui  occasione  et  dilatione  remota, 
et  sicut  corpus  meum  et  animam  diligis,  reddas  cano- 
nicis  Sancti  Martini  de  Lundonia  totum  bladum  siuim 
de  Godicestra,  ei  omnes  res  suas  quas  homines  raei  indc 
ceperunt,  et  omnia  sua  quae  in  terra  mea  invenire  po- 
terinl  ;  et  omnes  homines  sui  et  res  sua'  meam  firmam 
pacem  amodo  habeant ;  quia  pro  infirmitate  mea;  et  pro 
redemptione  animse  meae,  canonicis  illis  et  omnibus  eccle- 
siis  Dei  satisfacere  promisi.  Et  fac  recognosci  per  vici- 
nium  et  probos  homines  illius  provincial  si  V.  acrae 
terras  quas  Walterus  Longus  tenet  et  illos  inde  disaisivit, 
quas  illi  canonici  calumniant,  sint  de  corum  tenuera ;  et 
si  recognitum  fuerit,  fac  inde  eos  saisiri,  et  bene  et  in 
pace  ten  cant. 

Madox  speaks  of  this  writ  as  having  been  granted  "  in  or  about  the 
reign  of  king  Henry  I.  or  Stephen."  If  this  was  the  second  Geoffrey 
earl  of  Essex,  as  appears  to  be  the  case,  the  writ  was  of  the  reign 
of  Stephen  ;  for  that  king  raised  him  to  the  position.  1  Foss,  Judges, 
274.     He  was  killed  in  battle  in  1111.     lb. 


[Bishop  Ascelin  and  the  Monks   of   St.  Andrew. 
Befoee  1147.]  * 

[Kecord  of  judgment  in  favour  of  the  monks  of  St.  Andrew  as  to 
certain  manors ;  trial  before  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
bishops,  abbots,  and  other  religious  men.] 

Imarus,  Dei  gracia  Tuseulanus  cpiscopus,  apostolicse  sedis 

'    1 1  name's  Textus  Roffensis,  201. 


STEPHEN.  161 

legatu^  omnibus  matris  ecclesiae  filiis,  ad  quos  litterae 
istae  pervenerintj  salutem.  Rei  gestae  memoria  litteris 
provide  committitur,  ne  lites  seme!  sopitae  in  futuro  iterum 
instaurentur.  Proinde  universitati  vestrae  per  praesentia 
scripta  notum  esse  volumus,  quod  inter  Ascelinum 
Rofensem  episcopum,  et  ejusdem  loci  monachos,  ecclesiae 
scilicet  beati  Andrese,  super  jure  maneriorum  Lambetham 
et  Hendenham,  controversia  bujusmodi  ortaest.  Assere- 
bant  praedieti  monachi,  memorata  raaneria  sibi  ad  victum 
proprium  a  rege  Anglorum  "YVillelmo  juniore,  et  Lam- 
franco  piae  recordationis  Cantuariensi  archiepiscopo,  et 
GundulfoRofensi  episcopo  concessa  rationabiliter  et  donata, 
et  ad  ejusdem  rei  evidentiorem  probationem,  eorundem 
cartas  et  confirmationes  et  sequentium  regum  Anglorum 
Henrici  et  Stephani,  et  Anselmi  Cantuariensis  archiepis- 
eopi  in  medium  proferebant.  Contra  quae  cum  praefatus 
Ascelinus  Rofensis  episcopus  nicbil  firmum,  nichil  validum 
responderet,  nee  se  in  praetaxatis  maneriis  jus  babere  pro- 
bare  posset,  assidentibus  nobis  venerabilibus  fratribus, 
Teobaldo  Cantuariensi  archiepiseopo,  Rodberto  Lundoni- 
ensi,  Henrico  Wintoniensi,  Alexandro  Linconiensi,  Ibrardo 
Noruuicensi,  Sifredo  Cicestrensi  episcopis,  Gaufrido  Sancti 
Albani,  Gervasio  Westmonasterii,  Petro  Scireburnensi 
abbatibus,  et  magistro  Hilario,  et  aliis  quam  pluribus 
religiosis  personis,  ipsa  maneria,  cum  omnibus  suis 
appenditiis,  secundum  quod  cartae  donationis  et  con- 
firmationis  eontinebant,  ipsis  monachis  adjudicavimus,  et 
ipsos  possessores  constituimus,  ipso  eorum  episcopo  pro- 
mittente,  quod  deinceps  sine  vexatione  et  inquietatione 
monachos  bona  et  possessiones  suas  habere  permitteret, 
et  pacem  eis  servaret,  quod  et  ipsi  firmiter  observare  prae- 
cepimus,  ad  cujus  rei  argumentum  ipsos  monachos  in 
osculo  pacis  recepit.     Nos  itaque  praedictorum  fratrum 

M 


162 


IM.At.HA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 


justis  petitionibus  facilem  praebentes  assensum,  tarn  saepe- 
dicta  maneria  quam  alia  omnia  eorum  bona  et  posses- 
sions, quas  in  praBsentiarum  juste  possident,  vol  in 
futuro  legitime  habitnri  sunt,  jura  etiam,  consuetudines, 
Libertates  rationabiliter  indultas,  auetoritate  officii  quo 
fungimur  ipsis  conm-mamus,  et  praesentis  scripti  attes- 
tatione  roboramus. 


[Monks  of  Gloucester.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  as  to  tithes  of  Barton.] 

Stephanus  rex  Ang-lire  Miloni  Gloucestriae,  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  quod  juste  facias  habere  monacbos  Glouces- 
triae deeimam  suam  do  Bertliona  sicut  melius  et  plenius 
habuerunt  tempore  regis  Henrici,  ne  super  hoc  inde 
clamorem  audiam. 


[Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  Robert,  Son  of  Walter, 
et  al.]  2 

[The  king's  writ  of  seisin  in  favour  of  the  abbot  of  Gloucester.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Anglorum,  Roberto  filio  Walteri  et 
ministris  suis,  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  juste  resaysiatis 
abbatem  de  Gloucestria  de  ecclesia  sua  de  Northona,  de 
terris  et  deeimis,  et  de  omnibus  eidem  ecclesise  pertinenti- 

1  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  178  (Rec.  Com.).  2  2  lb.  46. 


STEPHEN.  163 

bus,  sicut  fuit  die  qua  rex  Henricus  novissime  mare 
transivit  ad  eundum  in  Normanniam.  Et  nisi  feceris 
Walterus  archidiaeonus  de  Oxonia  faciat,  ne  iude  amplius 
elamorem  audiani  pro  penuria  pleni  recti.  Teste  [name 
not  given]. 

Compare  tlie  -writ  in  Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  William,  the  Constable, 
ante,  p.  130. 


[Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  R.  the  Little.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  defendant  to  go  into  the  abbot's 
court,  and  plead  as  to  tenure  of  lands.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  R.  parvo,  salutem.  Si  cog- 
noscis  quod  debeas  tenere  virgatam  terra3  quam  tenes  in 
Quedesleya  de  abbate  Glocestrise,  tunc  prsecipio  tibi  quod 
desicut  abbas  dicit  quod  rectum  in  ea  non  habes,  aut  eas 
in  curiam  ejus  dirationare  quod  tua  esse  debeat,  vel  di- 
mitte  ei  terrain  suam  sicut  justum  fuerit.  Et  nisi  feceris 
Milo  Gloucestrise  faciat,  etc.2 


[Church  of  St.  Peter  of  Gloucester.]  3 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  church  of  St.  Peter  hold  certain 
lands  in  peace.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  justiciariis  et  vicecomitibus  et 
ministris  suis  de  Gloucestresyra,  salutem.  PraBcipio  quod 
ecclesia  Sancti  Petri  de  Gloucestria  teneat  terrain  suam 
de  Rugge  ita  bene  et  in  pace,  et  libere,  et  quiete,  sicut 

1   2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  96  (Rec.  Com.).  2  Sic. 

s  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  97  (Rec.  Com.). 

JU    2 


164  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOKMANNICA. 

melius  tenuit  tempore  regis  Henrici,  et  sicut  carta  sua 
testatur,  ne  super  hoc  ponatur  in  aliquam  riovam  vel 
injustam  consuetudinem . 


[Monks  of  Gloucester.]1 

[Writ  of  the  earl  of  Mellent  directing  that  the  monks  of  Gloucester 
be  exempt  from  toll  and  customs.] 

G.  comes  de  Mellent,  omnibus  ballivis  et  ministris  suis 
de  Wyrecestresira,  et  praepositis  et  ministris  suis  de 
Wyche,  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  totum  dominium  mo- 
nachorum  de  Gloucestria,  unde  homines  eorum  poterunt 
affidare  suum  esse  proprium,  sit  quietum  ab  omni  thel- 
oneo  et  consuetudine  apud  Wyche,  sicut  melius  fuit 
tempore  Henrici  regis.  Et  super  hoc  non  disturbentur 
homines  aut  res  eorum  super  forisfacturam  meam.  Tes- 
tibus  Alberico  de  Vere,  et  Roberto  filio  Walteri,  et 
Radulpho  pincerna,  et  Philippo  de  Belmes,  etc.2 

[The  following  more  general  writ  was  granted  by  the  king : — ]  ' 
Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  justiciariis,  et  vicecomitibus, 
baronibus,  et  ministris  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem. 
Prsecipio  quod  tota  pccunia  Sancti  Petri  Gloucestriae  et 
abbatis  et  monachorum  sit  quieta  de  theloneo,  et  omni 
consiu'tudiue,  ubicunque  venerit.  Et  defendo  ne  dis- 
fcurbetur  injuste  super  decern  libras  forisfactura?.  Teste 
Milone  Gloucestrise. 


1  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  71  (Rec.  Com.).  2  gjc 

3  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  135  (Rec.  Com.). 


STEPHEN.  165 

[Church  op  St.  Andrew.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  church  of  St.  Andrew  hold  all  its 
property  in  peaco.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Anglorum,  Radulfo  filio  comitis,  et  vice- 
comiti  de  Client,  et  justiciariis  et  miuistris  de  Rouecestra, 
sal utcm.  Precipio  quod  ecclesia  et  monaehi  Sancti 
Andree  de  Rouecestra  teneant  et  habeant  omnes  terras,  et 
tenuras  suas,  et  homines,  et  consuetudines  suas,  et  quar- 
tam  partem  redditus  Rouecestre,  ita  bene  et  in  pace,  et 
juste  et  libere,  et  quiete  et  honorifice,  sicut  unquam 
melius  vel  liberius  tenuerunt  tempore  regis  Henriei,  in 
die  qua  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus,  et  tempore  aliorum  regum, 
antecessorum  meorum,  ne  super  hoc  aliquis  eis  inde 
auferat,  vel  minuat  quicquam,  neque  clamorem  inde 
audiam.     Teste  Roberto  cancellario  apud  Rouecestram. 


[Henry  Bishop  of  Winchester  et  al.]j 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  bishop  of  Winchester  and  others 
hold  in  peace  a  certain  marsh.] 

Stephanus,  rex  Angliae,  Ricardo  de  Luci  justiciario  et 
vicecomiti  de  Essexa  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  Henricus 
"Wintoniensis  episcopus  frater  meus,  decanus  ecclesiae 
Sancti  Martini  Londoniae,  et  canonici,  ita  bene  et  in  pace 
et  juste  teneant  mariscum  suum  de  Mealdona,  quern 
Rannulfus  de  Venjons  dedit  ecclesia?  Sanctse  Marias  de 
Mealdona  pro  anima  sua,  de  terra  ilia  quam  rex  Henri- 
cus illi  dedit  de  dominio  suo  pro  servitio  suo,  sicut  idem 

1  Regist.  KofTense,  37.  :  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  23  (fol.  ed.). 


166  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Rannulfus  illam  eis  dedit,  et  sicut  eartha  ipsius  testatur, 
et  sicut  tenuerunt  die  qua  rex  Ilenricus  fuit  vivus  et 
mortuus,  et  postea  hactenus.  Et  si  quis  illis  fecerit 
injuriam,  prascipio  quod  plenum  rectum  illis  faciatis  hide. 
Teste  Roberto  de  Ver  apud  Bermundesiam. 


[Archbishop  of  York.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  plaintiff  hold  a  certain  mill  and 
water  in  security,  and  that  right  be  done  upon  the  men  who 
broke  the  race.] 

Stephanus  rex  Anglise,  justiciariis  et  vicecomiti  de  Ebo- 
rum, salutem.  Prascipio,  quod  Sanctus  Petrus  de  Eborum 
habeat  molendinum  suum  cum  stagno  suo  de  Savelint, 
ita  bene  et  libere  sicut  habuit  tempore  reguni  Willielmi 
et  Henrici  avunculorum  meorum,  et  plenum  rectum 
facite  michi  et  archiepiscopo  de  illis  qui  stagnum  illud 
fregerunt.     Teste  Roberto  de  Curci,  apud  Eborum. 

1  6  Monasticon  (part  3),  1197  (ed.  1846). 


HENRY  II. 

[Abbot  of  Abingdon  v.  Turstin,  Son  of  Simon,  et  al. 
1154.]1 

[The  plaintiff,  in  the  time  of  king  Stephen,  disseises  the  defendants  of 
certain  land  for  non-payment  of  annual  dues ;  whereupon  the 
defendants  go  to  the  king,  and,  declaring  that  the  plaintiff  has 
unlawfully  disseised  them,  obtain,  by  paying  him  money,  a  writ 
commanding  the  plaintiff  to  redeliver  possession  to  the  de- 
fendants. The  plaintiff  defers,  and  the  defendant  Turstin  obtains 
(with  money)  another  writ,  directed  to  the  sheriff  of  Oxford 
ordering  him  to  try  the  cause  without  delay.  The  sheriff 
corrupted  by  money,  delivers  possession  to  Turstin.  King 
Henry  II.  having  succeeded  to  the  throne,  the  abbot  obtains  a  writ 
ordering  the  sheriff  of  Berkshire  to  try  the  cause  at  once,  and 
give  the  plaintiff  seisin,  if  entitled  to  it.  Turstin  essoins  himself 
on  various  grounds,  and  then  secretly  leaves  the  county  ;  and  the 
case  fails  of  trial.  The  plaintiff  now  obtains  another  writ  di- 
recting others  to  try  the  matter.  The  case  is  now  heard  before 
the  justiciars  and  other  wise  men,  and  the  court  pronounce  to 
the  king  in  favour  of  the  plaintiff,  and  the  king  approves  the  de- 
cision, and  orders  Turstin  to  deliver  possession  of  the  land  to 
the  plaintiff,  and  to  j>ay  him  the  damages  sustained;  with  the 
privilege,  on  payment,  of  resuming  the  original  tenure.  Turstin 
is  unable  to  pay  the  damages,  and  the  land  is  given  to  the 
plaintiff.] 

Regnante  autem  rege  Stephano,  et  praesidente  huic 
ecclesiae  domno  Ingulfo  abbate,  praadictus  Simon  dedit 
filiam  suam  in  conjugium  cuidam  militi,  nomine  Waltero 
filio  Hingam,  tradiditque  ci  supradictam  villam  Tade- 
mertun,  tali  scilicet  conditione  qua  et  ipse  earn 
tenuerat ;  id  est,  ut  XV.  libras  abbati  inde  per  sing'ulos 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  183  (Rec.  Com.) 


168  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

annos  redderet.  Qui  villam  tenuit,  scd  nihil  omnino 
pro  ea  reddidit.  Quam  ob  causam  abbas  ad  eandem 
villam  quendam  ex  monacbis  suis  transmittens,  resaisiavit 
earn  in  manu  sua;  reputans  sibi  in  quant ulumcun que 
lueri  provenire  saltern  ipsam  villam  (licet  etiam  aliquan- 
diu  cum  detrimento  constituti  redditus)  obtinere,  quam 
utroque  simul,  et  villa  scilicet  et  solito  ejus  redditu, 
destitui.  Hoc  autem  factum  memoratus  Simon,  et 
Walterus  gener  ejus,  neenon  et  filii  eorum,  graviter 
accipientes,  multa  circa  nos  deinceps  malitia  usi  sunt, 
nobis  semper  prout  valebant  adversantes. 

Eo  igitur  anno  quo  rex  Stephanus  et  Henricus  dux 
Normanniae  foederati  sunt,  Turstinus  filius  ejusdem 
Simonis  suggessit  regi  abbatem  Abbendonia3  quasdam 
hereditarii  sui  juris  possessiones  injusta  et  fraudulenta 
invasione  jam  aliquandiu  occupasse.  Datis  ei  pro 
restitutione  eorumdem  muncribus,  rex  illico  abbati  per 
breve  suum  mandavit  ut,  remota  omni  dilatione,  quic- 
quid  Turstinus  suum  dicebat,  saisiaret.  Quo  audito, 
abbas  non  leve  damnum  inspiciens,  non  leviter  consensit. 
Adunata  tamen  curia  sua,  diem  statuit  quo,  habita 
deliberatione,  excogitaret  quid  super  hoc  responderet. 
■Jam  aderat  dies  statuta,  et  nondum  consentiente  abbate 
ut  vel  tunc  Turstinus  quod  petebat  acciperet,  sieut 
primo,  sic  secundo  diem  distulit,  quo  scilicet  sapientiores 
de  tali  negotio  consuleret.  Quo  contra  Turstinus  lucrum 
suum  differri  considerans,  diem  rcnuit,  regem  adiit,  et 
quod  jussa  regis  abbas  implere  noluerit,  mendaciter 
indicavit;  insuper  (ut  citius  voti  compos  efliceretur) 
regem  regisque  collaterales  jam  iterum  muneribus  sibi 
illexit.  Ilex  autem  causam  Turstini  justam  existimans, 
vicecomiti  suo,  tunc  temporis  Henrico  de  Oxeneford, 
praecepil    ut,  ablato  omni  dilationis    scrupulo,   causam 


HENRY    II.  169 

utramque   secundum  jus  regium  tractaret.     Vicecomes 

vei'Oj    amore    pecuniae    depravatus,    justos    possessores 

depraedavit;  ct   Turstinum  in    re   non   sua,  quasi   rege 

jubente  et  jure  dictante,  in  juste  (ut  ipse  postca  confessus 

est )  introduxit.  Turstinus  ergo  saisatus  re  quam  petebat, 

id    est   ecclesia  de  Marcham,  et   III.   hidis  ad  eandam 

pertinentibus,    ct    I.    in    Middeltun,    una    quoque    in 

Appelford,  contra  jus  ecclesiasticum  agens,  rem  eandem 

detinuit.     Scd  non  patitur  Deus  sicut  justa  sic  injusta 

diu  subsistere. 

Eodem    namque  anno  quo  res  ecclesiae  invasit,  Ste- 

pbanus  rex   diem  obiit,  eique  in  regno  Henricus  junior 

successit.     Quern  adeuntes  de  congregatione  fratres,  rem 

prout    erat    perverse  tractatam  monstraverunt,  suppli- 

cantes  ut  eorum    justae    querelas   aurem    accommodaret. 

Adquiescens  vero  rex  fratribus,  quorum  justam  querelam 

deprebendit,  semel  et  iterum  missis  litteris,  prsecepit  ut 

in  comitatu  Berchescire  causa  utriusque  (ecclesia?  Ab'oen- 

donensis  scilicet,  et  Turstini)  in  medio  proferretur,  prolata 

examinarctur,  examinata  vel  hinc  vel  inde  terminaretur.1 

Sed    Turstinus,  de   culpa   sibi    conseius,  nunc  simulato 

regis    negotio,    nunc    infirmitate,    nunc    hac    nunc    ilia 

occasione,  per  biennium  et  eo  amplius  comitatus  caute 

subterfugit.     Quod     intelligens    abbas,     laboris    toties 

1  The  following  appears  to  be  the  writ : — Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  et 
dux  Normannise  et  Aquitanioa,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  Ricardo  de  Can- 
villis,  vicecomit:  de  Berchescira,  salutem.  Si  abbas  de  Abbendonia  in- 
juste  et  sine  judicio  dissaisatus  est  de  terra  sua  de  Mercheham,  et  de 
Middeltona,  et  de  Appelford,  tunc  prascipio  quod  eum  inde  sine  dila- 
tione  et  juste  resaisias  ;  et  teneat  ita  bene,  et  in  pace,  ct  juste,  sicut 
ecclesia  de  Abbendonia  melius  earn  tenuit  tempore  Henrici  regis,  avi 
mei ;  et  catalla,  quae  in  terra  ilia  injuste  ablata  sunt,  juste  eisreddere 
facias  ; '  et  nisi  feceris,  justitia  mea  faciat  fieri.  Teste  comite  Regi- 
naldo;  apud  Windesoram.   2  Hist.  Mon.de  Abingd.  223  (Rec.  Com.). 

1   Mesne  profits. 


170  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

inanis  piguit ;  et  assumptis  secum  f'ratribus,  ad  regem 
(qui  tunc  apud  Wdestoca  morabatur)  accessit ;  obnixe 
postulans  ut  sui  misertus,  et  laboris  et  causae  finem 
imponeret.  Annuit  illico  rex;1  et  convocatis  justiciis 
suis,  Gregorio  scilicet  Lundoniensi,  et  Willelmo  filio 
Johannis,  et  Nigello  de  Brocco,  cseterisque  curia?  sua? 
sapientibus,  prsecepit  ut  abbatis  et  Turstini,  qui  tunc 
aderat,  causam  tractarent ;  asserens  quicquid  super  hoc 
recte  judicarent,  inconcusse  teneri  debere.  Qui,  inspecta 
rei  veritate,  intellexerunt  Turstinum  substantiam  ecclesia? 
injuste  detinuisse,  et  abbatem  pro  tali  damno  justam 
querelam  movisse.  Sed  quamvis  hoc  justum  esset,  non 
tanien  de  se  prsesumebant  ut  hunc  re  quam  invaserat 
privarent,  nisi  prius  audita  ab  ore  regio  sententia. 
Dicebant  quippe  solidius  posse  subsistere  quod  ex  ore 
regio  prolata  auctoritas  studuerit2  confirmare.  Nuntia- 
verunt  interea  prsefati  viri  regi  de  judieio  sibi  commisso, 
quid  actum  esset,  orantes  ut  ipse  voluntatem  suam 
idem3  eis  aperiret.  Quibus  praecepit  ut  non  solum  quod 
Turstinus  injuste  adeptus  fuerat  in  dominium  ecclesise 
reverterent/    verum     etiam     damnum5    quod    interim 

1  The  following  appears  to  be  the  writ : — Hem-icus,  rex  Angliae,  et 
dux  Normarmise  et  Aquitania?,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  H.  de  Oxcneford 
vicecomiti  et  ministris  suis,  salutern.  Prascipio  vobis  quod  si  abbatia 
de  Abbendonia  injuste  dissaisiata  est  de  ecclesia  de  Mercheham  et 
pertinentiis  suis,  et  de  I.  hida  teme  et  dimidia  in  Middeltuna,  ct  de 
I.  hida  in  Appelford,  sine  dilationo  earn  inde  resaisiatis,  et  in  pace 
tenere  faciatis,  sicut  melius  tenuit  tempore  Henrici  regis,  avi  mei ;  ct 
nisi  feceritis,  justitia  mea  faciat.  Teste  Warino  filio  Giroldi ;  apud 
Wdestocam.     2  Hist.  Mon.  de  Abingd.  222  (Rec.  Com.)- 

2  prolatam  atictoritatem  studuorint  ? 

3  inde?  4  revei-teretur  ? 

5  Mesne  profits  in  the  same  action  in  which  the  land  is  recovered. 
See  Glanvill,  lib.  12,  c.  18;  lb.  lib.  13,  c.  38.  In  the  last-named 
chapter,  Glanvill,  speaking  of  the  recognition  of  novel  disseisin, 
Bays  :  "  In  no  other  recognition  does  the  judgment  of  the  court  usually 
make  any  mention  concerning  the  chattels  or  fruits." 


HENRY    II.  171 

ecclesiae  intulit,  restaurari  juberentj  servato  quod  si 
idem  Turstinus  vejlet,  sicut  pater  ejus  et  ipse,  manerium 
Tadmertun  per  singulos  annos  pro  XV.  libris  de  abbate 
fceneret.      Quibus    diligenter    damnum    computantibus 

dictum  est  parum  esse  si  Turstinus  pro  damno  de 
Tademertun  LX.  marcas,  pro  damno  vero  ecclesiae  de 
Marcham  et  quinque  hidarum,  quas  praediximus,  III. 
marcaSj  abbati  persolveret;  nisi  in  hoc  idem  abbas 
Turstino  parcere  voluisset.  Turstinus  autem,  cogiioscens 
quod  ei  imponebatur  vires  suas  excedere,  et  villain 
tenere  et  pro  damno  quod  jussus  erat  persolvere  se  non 
posse,  indicavit.  Quod  cum  regi  nuntiatum  esset, 
jussit  lit  abbas  sic  villain,  sicut  ecclesiam,  et  terrain 
praefatam,  reeiperet,  et  Turstino  vel  suis  heredibus  post 
ilium  diem  nihil  responderet. 

[The  claim  renewed  by  Richard  Basset,  son  of  Turstin,  on  the  death 
of  the  latter.  The  abbot,  however,  obtains  a  writ  directing  that 
the  monks  hold  in  peace,  and  Richard  makes  composition  with 
the  church.] l 

Ricardus  itaque  Basset  (films  Turstini,  filii  Radulfi 
praedicti)  cum,  patre  mortuo,  heres  suecessisset,  de 
supradictis  IIII.  hidis  calumniam  movit,  multa  objec- 
tione  et  curiositate  agens,  ut  eas  ad  se  (si  quomodo 
posset)  attraheret.  Versutias  vero  ejus  fratres2  agnos- 
centes,  regem  Henricum  juniorem,  tunc  temporis 
regnantem,  adierunt,  postulantes  ut  eis  cum  pace  tenere 
faceret  quod  eis  juste  donatum  fuerat.  Quorum  petitioni 
benigne  annuens,  tale  breve  sigillo  suo  munitum  Ricardo 
direxit : 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et 
Aquitaniae,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  Ricardo  Basset,  salutem. 

1  Hist.  Mon.  de  Abingd.  188  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  The  abbot's  brethren. 


172  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOItMANNICA. 

Praeeipio  quod  monachi  mei  de  Abbendona  teneant  in 
pace,  ct  libei'Cj  et  quiete,  et  juste  IIII.  hidas  terrae  de 
Chedeleswrtha,  sicut  eas  tenuerunt  tempore  Henrici 
regis,  avi  mei,  et  ejusdem  libertatibus  cum  omnibus 
pertiuentiis  earum  ;  et  proliibeo  ne  quis  eos  inde  injuste 
ponat  in  placitum.  Quod  nisi  feceris,  justitia  mea 
faciat  fieri,  ne  inde  audiam  clamorem  pro  penuria  pleni 
recti  vel  firm  a?  justitise.  Teste  Willelmo,  filio  Joliannis; 
apud  Chivam. 

Quo  breve  audito,  Ricardus  nee  valens  in  aliquo 
contradicere,  sed  et  sciens  se  calumniam  movisse, 
chirographum  tale  cum  Abbendonensibus  composuit : 

Notum  sit  omnibus,  tarn  praesentibus  quam  futuris, 
quod  ego  Ricardus  Basset,  films  Turstini  Basset,  concessi 
in  eleemosynam  perpetuam,  et  firmiter  confinnavi  in 
capitulo,  coram  omni  convent u,  et  super  altare  signo 
cultelli  propriis  manibus  posui,  ecclesiae  Abbendone 
IIII.  hidas  de  Chedeleswrthe,  cum  pertinentiis  earum  in 
bosco,  in  piano,  quas  avus  meus,  Radulfus  Basset,  et 
pater  meus,  Turstinus  Basset,  dederant  praedictse  ecclesiae 
tenendas,  liberas  et  absolutas  ab  omni  servitio  militari  et 
exactione,  prseter  commune  geldum  totius  comitatus; 
ita  tamen  si  alia?  terrae  meae  sunt  quietae,  et  ilia  similiter 
sit  quieta.  De  bosco  autem  quod1  praedictse  terra? 
adjacet,  cum  fuero  in  provincia  ilia,  retineo  ad  focum 
coram  me  faciendum  et  ad  coquinam  meam,  et  virgas  et 
palas  ad  faldos  et  sepes  circa  curiam  meam  faciendas,  et 
arbores  ad  molendiua  mea  de  Ledecumba,  si  in  bosco  illo 
inveniri  poterunt.  Quod  totum  capietur  per  visum 
forestarii  monacborum,  et  sicut  docuerit,  et  porci  mei  de 
Ledecumba  de  dominio  quieti  sint  de  pasnagio,  prsesen- 
tibus   testibus   subscriptis :  Toto   conventu.     De  laicis, 

1  qui  ? 


HENRY    II.  173 

Adam   Vicecomite,    Jordano   de   Samford,    Jolianne   de 

Sancta   Helena,   Gaufredo  de   Sunigeuuelle,  Henrico  de 

Pisi,  lladulf'o  Britone,  lladulfo  Placitore,  et  multis  aliis. 

See  Abbot  Walkelin  v.  Turstin  Basset,  post,  p.  197.  The  first 
appearance  of  the  perfect,  or  nearly  perfect,  writ  of  novel  disseisin 
will  be  noticed  above,  pp.  169,  170,  notes. 


[Abbot  Walter  v.  Alan  de  Neville.     Near  end  op 
reign  of  Stephen  or  beginning  op  that  of  Hen.  II. 

— PROBABLY   THE    LATTER.]  l 

[The  defendant,  the  king's  forester,  levies  and  collects  a  sum  of 
money  of  lands  of  Battel  Abbey  as  essarts,  and  sends  the  amount 
to  the  treasury  of  the  king.  The  abbot  of  Battel,  on  hearing  of 
this,  enters  complaint  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  before  the  earl 
of  Leicester,  Richard  de  Luci  (chief  justiciar),  and  other  barons, 
and  having  established  the  liberties  of  Battel,  obtains  judgment 
of  restitution.] 

Pr^erat  ejus  temporibus  doraini  regis  forestariis  qui- 
dam  Alanus  de  Nova- villa  voeatus,  qui  ex  eoncessa  sibi 
potestate  satis  malitiose  innumeris  et  insolitis  quaestioni- 
bus  diversas  per  Angliam  provincial  vexabat.  Quia  enim 
nee  Deuni  nee  homines  verebatur,  nee  ecclesiasticis  nee 
secularibus  parcebat  dignitatibus.  Domino  itaque  rege 
in  transmarinis  agente,  inter  csetera  iniquitatis  suae  opera 
idem  Alanus  in  maneria  ecclesia?  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello 
infra  terminos  forestarum  sita  insurgens,  de  uno  eorum, 
scilicet  Bromham,  XX.  solidos,  et  de  quodam  membro 
ejusdem  scilicet  Anestia  dimidiam  marcam,  et  tantum- 
dem  de  manerio  de  Briethwoldintune,  pro  exartis  vi 
exegit.  Collecta  est  haec  pecunia  per  vicecomites  pro- 
vinciarum,  et  ad  seaccarium  domini  regis  delata,  ubi  a 
tliesauriis  recepta,  in  serario  domini  regis  est  reposita. 
Quo  cognito,  abbas  unum  ex  monachis  suis  cum   cart  is 

'   Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,  110  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 


174  PLACITA     LtfGLO-NORMANNICA. 

dignitatum  et  libertatum  suarum  ad  scaccariura  trans- 
misil  nt  in  audientia  justiciarum  super  hac  insolita  et 
indebita  exactione  conquereretur.  Monachus  vero  eo 
pervenienSj  coram  Roberto  comite  Legacestrise  et  Ricardo 
de  Luei,  qui  tunc  summam  regni  justiciam  vice  regis 
exequebantur,  et  coram  aliis  baronibus  scaccarii  conque- 
rens  super  illata  injuria  rem  ex  ordine  pandit,  cartas 
legendas  proponit,  restitutionem  ablatorum  expetit. 
Auditis  ex  cartarum  testimonio  eeclesise  libertatibuSj 
omnium  unanimi  judieio  pecunia  jamdicta  jam  per  plures 
dies  in  thesauro  regis  reposita  extrahitur,  coram  omnibus 
monacho  redditur,  franguntur  talliae,  omnisque  ejusdem 
pecuniae  memoria  de  rotuiis  eraditur. 

The  chronicler  of  Battel  Abbey  proceeds  to  narrate  a  protracted  and 
varying  series  of  litigations  concerning  the  right  of  presentation  to  the 
churches  at  Middlehale,  Trilawe.  Brantham,  Branford,  and  Mendlesham. 
The  church  at  Middlehale  had  ]  ecu  given  to  Battel  by  king  Stephen, but 
Roberl  de  Crevequeor  had  assumed  the  right  of  patronage.  Theabbol 
seeks  justice  without  avail,  now  in  the  King's  Court,  now  in  the 
Ecclesiastical.  Quiet  having  returned  on  the  death  of  Stephen,  the 
case  is  renewed  under  the  new  king  "  first  in  the  Royal  Court,  then 
in  the  Ecclesiastical."  The  case  is  then  appealed  by  both  sides  to 
the  pope,  who  refers  it  to  two  English  bishops.  They  finally  hear  t  lie 
cause,  and  give  judgment  in  favour  of  St.  Martin.  A  knight  named 
Haymo  Peche  had  claimed  the  right  of  patronage  of  the  church  at  Tri- 
lawe,  which  had  been  given  to  St.  Martin  by  William  Rufus,  and  had 
granted  it  to  a  clerk  named  William  do  Orboc.  Orbec  was,  however, 
removed  by  legal  pi'oceedings,  instituted  "  first  in  the  King's  Court, 
and  then  in  the  Ecclesiastical,"  and  another  appointed  by  the  abbot 
of  St.  Martin.  A  vacancy  now  occurring  by  death,  William  de  Orbec 
again  seizes  the  church  ;  whereupon  the  abbot,  instead  of  proceeding 
againsi  William,  brings  suit  against  his  patron,  Haymo,  in  the  King's 
Court.     The  parties  are  firsi  summoned  to  London,  and  then  (lla\  mo 

not  comi         in    i     oigning  himself  for  sickness)  to  Northam] 

In  the  mean  time,  the  church  is  sequestered  into  the  king's  hands. 
Eaymo,  by  his  son,  confesses  judgment  on  the  reading  of  the  char- 
ters. The  other  churches,  also  the  gift  of  king  Rufus  to  Battel, 
having  been  seized  by  Alan  de  BellafagO,  who  claimed  title  under 
suspicious  charters  of  the  abbot's  predecessor,  the  abbot  sues  for 
possession  in  the  King's  Court,  and  the  charters  being  pleaded  by 
Alan,  a  compromise  is  advised  by  tho  whole  court,  and        I 


JIENRY    II.  175 

[Abbot  Walter  v.  Gilbert  de  Baillol.   About  1154.] l 

[The  king  grants  his  writ  at  the  instance  of  Walter,  abbot  of  St.  Martin, 
to  John,  earl  of  Eu,  commanding  him  to  do  justice  by  the  abbot 
against  Gilbert  de  Baillol  as  to  certain  lands.  The  defendant  evades 
the  trial  in  various  ways.  Leave  is  finally  obtained  to  bring  the 
suit  into  the  King's  Court,  but  the  king's  presence  cannot  be 
obtained.  The  cause,  though  much  litigated  before  tho  justiciars, 
comes  to  no  satisfactory  conclusion.  Tho  king's  presence  is  at  last 
obtained,  and  tho  trial  proceeds.  The  abbot's  case  is  stated  by  a 
monk  and  by  a  knight.  Tho  charters  are  read  before  the  court, 
whereupon  Gilbert  objects  that  some  of  them  are  without  seals. 
Richard  de  Luci,  Chief  Justice,  replies  with  contempt  at  the  modern 
custom  for  every  little  knight  (militulus)  to  have  a  seal,  and  the 
objection  is  overruled.  Judgment  for  the  abbot,  followed  by  the 
king's  writ  for  a  survey  by  four  knights  and  twelve  men  of  the 
vicinage.  The  survey  is  made  on  oath,  and  the  abbot  reinvested 
with  possession.] 

[It  should  be  observed  that  the  abbot  of  St.  Martin  had  purchased 
part  of  the  land,  ami  received  part  as  a  gift,  from  a  sub-tenant  of 
the  manor  of  Barnhorn,  with  the  consent  of  Withelard  de  Baillol, 
who  held  the  same  of  the  earl  of  Eu.  Withelard  afterwards  dis- 
seises the  abbot  for  refusing  "  exactions."  This  was  temp. 
Henry  I.  The  abbot  is  unable  to  gain  restitution  in  that  reign 
or  the  following,  of  Stephen;  since  "in  his  (Stephen's)  time 
justice  was  little  regarded,  and  he  who  was  strongest  got 
most."  The  abbot's  claim  is  renewed  on  the  accession  of 
Ilenry  II.  against  the  successor  of  Withelard.] 

Succedente  post  decessum  regis  Stepbani  inclito  rege 
Henrico,  prions  Henrici  nepote,  qui  avita  tempora 
renovaret,  cum  jam  Warnerius  abbas  cessisset,  eique  vir 
venerabilis  abbas  Walterus  successisset,  idem  abbas  Wal- 
terus  quo  regi  familiaris  fieret  obtinuit,  sicque  coram  eo 
super  jamdicto  tenemento  de  Bernehorne,  querimoniam 
movit.  Rex  igitur  ad  abbatis  instantiam  litteris  suis 
Johanni  tunc  comiti  Augi  prsecipiendo  mandavit,  ut 
abbati  supradicto  tenemento  plenum  rectum  teneret,  aut 
si  non  faceret,  vicecomes  Sussexia)  hoc  faceret,  ne  rex 
inde  amplius  clamorem  audiret.   Gilebertus  vero  de  Baillol, 

i  Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,  106  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 


176  ll.ACITA    AXCLO-NOKMANXICA. 

qui  tunc  temporis  dominus  fundi  videbatur,1  super  hoc 
multis  mod  is  conventus,  et  per  comitem,  vicecomitem, 
abbatem  et  suos  requisitus,  per  plurimum  tempus  actum 
subterfugit,  et  ne  conflictum  iniret  multipliciter  dissimu- 
lavit.  Unde  licet  plurimum  tempus  casso  labore  consu- 
meretur,  noluit  tamen  abbas  coeptis  desisterc,  sed  domi- 
num  regem  turn  per  se,  turn  per  suos  saape  conveniens, 
ut  causa  ipsa  in  curiam  regiam  transferretur  tandem 
obtinuit.  Sed  domino  rege  nunc  in  Normanniam  trans- 
fretante,  nunc  in  Angliam  redeunte,  negotiisque  propriis 
insistente,  cum  causa  eadem  coram  justiciis  qui  vice 
regis  in  ejus  curia  prsesidebant  diutius  ventilaretur,  licet 
rex  nunc  mandatis  nunc  praeceptis  abbati  plenitudinem 
justitia3  frequentissime  indiceret  exhiberi,  nunquam 
tamen  res  digno  potuit  fine  concludi.  Domino  rege  tan- 
dem apud  Clarendonam  moram  faciente,  post  multa 
adversae  partis  subterfugia,  post  dissimulationes  plurimas, 
post  abbatis  et  suorum  fatigationes  multimodas,  utrique 
parti  regia  indicitur  auctoritate,  ut  die  determinato,  regio 
tribunali  apud  locum  praefatum,  sine  omni  subterfugio 
et  dissimulatione  debeant  pariter  assistere.  Cum  igitur 
excusationi  jam  locus  non  esset,  assunt  \xtrinque,  domino 
rege  pro  tribunali  residente.  Astant  in  medio  unus  ex 
monacbis  abbatis  Osmundus  nomine,  et  Petrus  de  Chriel 
miles,  qui  ab  initio  totius  curia?  incipientes,  qualiter  jam- 
dicta  terra  de  Berneborne,  ex  parte  fuerit  ecclesiae  Sancti 
Martini  do  Bello  data,  ex  parte  comparata,  qualiter  post- 
modum  ablata,  quousque  etiam  jam  per  plurimum 
tempus  post  litis  ingressum  transact  urn  processum  sit 
in  causa,  coram  rege  et  ejus  assessoribus  ex  online  ex- 
posuerunt,  conqueri  etiam  adjicientes  super  plurima  et 
dispendiosa  negotii  dilatione,  et  abbatis  ac  suorum  fre- 
1    Ilo  held  t  Ii !<>*•  knights'  foes  of  John  carl  of  Eu.    1  Lib.  Nig.  GG. 


HENRY    II. 


177 


quenti  et  inani  fatigatione.  Cum  igitur  jam  nihil  esset 
in  quo  recordationi  prosecutionis  causa?  possit  morito 
contradici,  curia  regia  iu  omnibus  testimonium  perhibente, 
ex  regis  permissione  leguntur  in  omnium  audientia  cyro- 
grapha  emptionis  et  donationis,  sed  et  carta?  confirma- 
tionum.  Quibus  cum  quid  responderet  pars  adversa 
minus  haberet,  Gilebertus  de  Baillol  ne  nihil  objicere 
videretur,  so  pradecessorum  suorum  cyrographa  audissc, 
sed  nulla  sigillorum  testimonia  in  eis  se  appensacausatur 
videre.  Quem  intuens  vir  magnificus  ac  prudens  Ricar- 
dus  de  Luci  ipsius  abbatis  frater,  tunc  domini  regis 
justicia  prima,  quserit  utrum  ipse  sigillum  habeat.  Quo 
asserente  se  sigillum  habere,  subridens  vir  illustris, 
"  Moris,"  inquit,  "  antiquitus  non  erat  quemlibet  mili- 
tulum  sigillum  habere,  quod  regibus  et  prsecipuis  tantum 
competit  personis,  nee  antiquorum  temporibus  homines 
ut  nunc  causidicos  vel  incredulos  malitia  reddebat." 
Cumque  confirmationi  Henrici  regis1  senioris  calump- 
niam  niteretur  inferre  idem  Gilebertus,  asserens  abbatem 
et  monachos  domino  regi  non  pro  requitate  sed  pro  vo- 
luntate  posse  persuadere,  dominus  rex  propriis  manibus 
cartam  et  sigillum  avi  sui  regis  Henrici  apprehendens, 
et  ad  eundem  Gilebertum  conversus,  "  Per  oculos,"  in- 
quit,  "  Dei,  si  cartam  hanc  falsam  comprobare  posses, 
lucrum  mille  librarum  mihi  in  Anglia  conferres."  Illo 
ad  hsec,  aut  parum  aut  nihil  respondente,  rex  subintulit 
verbum  memoriale  :  "  Si/'  inquit,  "  monachi  per  similem 
cartam  et  confirmationem  hujusmodi  jus  in  praesenti 
loco  scilicet  Clarendona,  quem  plurimum  diligo,  se  habere 
possent  ostendere,  nihil  esset  in  quo  eis  juste  possem 
contradicere,  quo  minus  eis  omnino  dimitteretur."     Con- 

1  The  donation  had  been  confirmed  by  Hem-y  I.  as  well  as  by  tho 
earl  of  En.     Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,  105. 


178  PLACITA    AXOT.O-XOKMAXXK   \. 

versus  igitur  rex  ad  abbatem  et  suos,  "  Ite,"  inquit,  "et 
consilio  habito,  invicem  conferte,  si  forte  sit  aliquid  cui 
amplius  quam  huic  carta?  velitis  inniti.  Non  tamen  vos 
putoad  praisens  aliam  quaesituros  probationem."  Abeuntes 
itaque  abbas  et  sui  super  hoc  consilium  inituri,  cartam 
suam  ad  onmeni  probationem  esse  sufficientem  cognos- 
centes  ex  verbis  regis  ultimis,  quibus  dixit,  "Non  vos 
puto  ad  pra'sens  aliam  quaesituros  probationem/'  in  prae- 
sentiam  regis  et  assidentium  habito  jam  consilio  redeunt, 
se  non  alios  inniti  aut  aliam  qua?situros,  extra  cartam, 
probationem  asserunt,  nil  se  magis  vel  minus  extra 
cartam  exigere,  super  hoc  autem  se  judicium  regiae  curia? 
expectare.  Non  habente  adversa  parte  quid  responderet, 
(juippe  cum  cartam  falsitatis  nee  auderet  nee  posset 
arguere,  quia  non  posset  probare,  unanimi  consensu  totius 
curise  adjudicatum  est,  abbati  et  ecclesise  Sancti  Martini 
de  Bello  omnia  debere  restitui,  quae  cartas  suae  exigebat 
testimonio.  .  .  .  Ad  regis  igitur  imperium  fiunt  litterae 
regio  sigillo  signata?,  ad  quatuor  milites  qui  tune  ex  ejus 
praecepto  vicecomitatum  Suthsexiae  regebant  celerius 
directae,  ut  absque  dilatione  terrain  quam  abbas  de  Bello 
in  curia  sua  coram  eo  dirationaverat,  scilicet  tres  wistas 
terra?  in  Bernehorne,  cum  toto  marisco,  et  decimam 
quandam  de  Bocholte,  eeelesiae  Sancti  Martini  de  Bello 
restituerent,  tarn  integre  et  tarn  plenarie,  tarn  libere  et 
quiete  tenendam,  sicut  temporibus  regis  Henrici  avi  sui 
teste  carta  sua  tenuerant,  designata  prius  terra  ipsa,  et 
terminis  ejus  peragratis  per  duodecim  viros  fideles  de 
vieinio  ipsius  tenement i  qui  metas  ejus  scirent,  et  obligati 
sacramento  veritatem  dicerent.  Quo  suseepto  mandato, 
Ricardus  de  Chaaines  qui  unus  erat  ex  IIII.  militibus 
vicecomitatum  Suthsexiae  tunc  temporis  regentibus,  so- 
ciorum  suorura  sibi  vice  commissa,  jamdictum  tenemen- 


n i:\ky    ii.  179 

turn  adiit,  sumptoque  tam  ab  hominibus  ejusdem  tcne- 
menti  quam  et  ab  his  qui  in  ejus  confinio  habitabanl 
sacramento,  metisque  designatis,  abbatem  et  ecclesiam 
Saneti  Martini  de  Bello  hide  investivit. 


[Robert  de  Icklesiiam  v.  Abbot  Walter.     About 
1151.] ' 

[The  abbot  of  St.  Martin  having  been  invested  with  possession  of  the 
In  mis  in  question  in  the  preceding  case,  Robert  de  Icklcsham, 
with  his  mother,  makes  an  entry  upon  a  meadow  within  the 
tenement  adjudged  to  St.  Martin,  and  being  expelled  in  an  at- 
tempt to  carry  off  hay,  brings  suit  iu  the  King's  Court ;  claiming 
(before  the  justiciars,  in  the  absence  of  the  king)  that,  as  he  was 
not  a  party  to  the  litigation  with  Gilbert  de  Baillol,  he  could  not  be 
bound  by  the  judgment.2  But  the  men  who  made  the  survey 
deny  his  claim,  and  judgment  goes  against  him,  and  he  is 
amerced.] 

Recuperata  hoc  modo,  licet  cum  labore  et  difficultate, 
saepefata  terra,  jamque  ut  putabatur  sopitis  omnibus,  cum 
remota  omni  calumpnia,  nullius  esse  videretur  mali  in 
posterum  suspicio,  Robert  us  quidam  de  Yclesham  cum 
matre  sua  Matilde  quoddam  pratum  infra  ambitum  tene- 
menti  illius  positum  repente  invasit.  Cujus  fcenum  cum 
vi  conaretur  auferre,  abbas  pnemunitus,  congregatis  viris 
quampluribus  vim  vi  reppulit,  et  fcenum,  parte  adversa 
confusa,  sibi  reponi  fecit.  Jamdictus  ergo  Robertus 
curiam  domini  regis  adieus,  et  quia  rex  non  aderat  in 
audientia  justiciarum  ejus  conqucrens,  homines  qui 
sacramento  prsestito  metas  tenementi  de  Bernehorne, 
designare  debuerant,  asseruit  plus  justo  occupasse,  et  sic 

1  Chron.  Mon.  de  Bello,  109  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 
-  This  appears  to  have  been  conceded. 

N  2 


L80  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

cum  non  traheretur  in  causam,  terram  suam  sibi  sub- 
latam  esse.  Ad  ejus  itaque  instantem  querimoniam  abbas 
cum  hominibus  qui  terram  peragraverant  ad  curiam 
agitur,  super  ea  quam  idem  Robertus  affirmabat  injus- 
titia,  satisfacturus.  Nee  cunctatus  abbas  mente  robustus, 
licet  corpore  invalidus,  se  die  determinate)  in  praesentia 
justiciarum  apud  Wintoniam  exhibuit,  hominibus  seeum 
adductis  qui  srepenominatum  tenementum  de  Bernehorne 
peragraverant,  et  ejus  metas  designaverant.  Astante 
Roberto  de  Yclesham  et  super  terra  sua  sibi  subdole  ut 
asserebat  sublata  conquerente,  procedunt  prsefati  XII. 
viri  ei  in  faeiem  resistentes,  iterato  sacramentum  prae- 
stare  parati,  se  non  quidem  amplius,  quinimmo  ne 
sacramenti  pmestiti  viderentur  transgressores,  minus 
justo  suo  ambitu  conclusisse.  Unde  idem  Robertus 
falsa)  conquestionis  reus  esse  convictus,  omnium  judicio 
misericordia)  reg-is  addicitur. 


[Wife   of    Robert   v.  Abbot  of   Abingdon. 
1154— 1158.] ' 

[The  plaintiff  claims  certain  land  which  had  been  given  by  her  hus- 
band to  the  defendant,  alleging  that  it  had  been  givon  her  as  her 
dowry  ;  but  the  cause  being  heard  by  many  wise  men,  judgment 
is  given  for  the  defendant.] 

Sicque  factum  est  ut  ipse  Robertus,  toto  astante  con- 
ventu,  dimidiam  illam  hidam  super  magnum  altare, 
absque  omni  in  posterum  reclamation e,  confirmaret. 
Postea  tamen   Roberti  uxor  asserens  banc  in  dotem  sibi 

1  2  Hist.  .Mun.  Abingd.  202  (Reo.  Com.). 


HENRY    II.  181 

fuisse  donatam,  a  rege  Henrico  juniore,  qui  post 
Stephanura  regnavit,  breve  quoddam  abbati  Ing-ulf'o 
detulit,  sensura  habens  ut  super  hac  calumnia  rectum 
[faceret  et1]  abbatem  et  mulierem  examinaret.  Brevi 
autem  perlecto,  astante  muliere,  comrauui  sapientium 
plurimorum,  qui  vocati  erant,  consideratione,  ostensum 
est  de  terra  ad  earn  nil  pertinere.  Et  muliere  quidem 
ad  propria  revertente,  causa  hsec  est  ita  finita. 


[Certain  Persons  v.  Beliarms.     1154 — 1158.]2 

[The  right  of  Beliardis  to  houses  which  she  proposed  to  give  to  abbot 
Richard  established  against  the  plaintiffs  by  the  wise  men.] 

Mulier  iterum  qusedam,  Beliardis  dicta,  Sturnelli  cujus- 
dam  uxor,  hujus  Ricardi  industria  provocata,  post  viri 
sui  decessum  domos  suas  altari  Sanctae  Maria?  attitulare 
disposuit.  Sed  ei  talia  cogitanti  calumniatores  quidam, 
qui  juris  sibi  aliquod  se  habere  putabant,  insurrexerunt ; 
sed  veritatis  investigatione  a  sapientibus,  qui  causam 
utramque  tractabant,  utpote  calumniam  injustam  in- 
ferentes,  postmodum  (ut  rectum  erat)  repulsi  sunt. 

1  These  words  seem  necessary. 
2  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  206  (Rec.  Com.). 


182  placita  anglo-n0r3iannica. 

[The   IIordarer  of  Winchester  and  Abbot  Ingulf. 
1154— 1158.] ' 

[Abbot  Ingulf  obtains  judgment  by  battle  as  to  a  certain  pasture.] 

Item,  tempore  Ingulphi  abbatis  orta  est  contentio  inter 
hordarium  Wintoniensem  et  ipsum  abbatem  super  qua- 
dam  pastura  inter  Oflentonam,  et  Wlfrichestuiij  qua? 
voeatur  Sumerlese.  Qiao  causa  tarn  diu  ventilata,  donee 
memorata  pastura  per  duellum  est  sopita,  et  per  victo- 
riam  pugilis  abbatis  liuic  domui,  secundum  consuetu- 
dinem  regni,  est  ad  judicata. 


[Abbot  Hamlin  v.  Earl  William  and  Picot,  a  Clerk. 
1156.]2 

[Record  by  Theobald,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  that  ho  had  heard 
witnesses  of  abbot  Hamlin  testify  that  they  had  heard  and  seen 
Robert  de  H.,  by  consent  of  his  lord,  grant  the  church  of  St. 
Gundley  to  the  church  of  Gloucester;  also  that  he  (Theobald) 
had  heard  other  witnesses  declare  that  they  had  seen  the  monks 
of  Gloucester  in  possession  of  the  church.] 

Theobaldus,  Dei  gratia  Cantuaricnsis  arehiepiscopus, 
Anglorum  primas,  et  Apostolicse  Sedis  legatus,  universis 
Sanctse  Ecelesiae  fidelibus,  salutem.  Notum  esse  volumus 
omnibus  ad  quos  pracsens  carta  pervenerit,  nos  audivisse 
testes  Hamelini  abbatis  Gloucestrise  super  ecclesia  Sancti 
Gundlei,  tres  videlicet  sacerdotes  testificantes  se  audisse 
•  I  vidisse  quod  Robertas  de  Haya,  assensu  Roberti  filii 
Hamonis  superioris  domini,  concesserit  ecclesia?  Glouces- 

1  2  IIihi.  Mod    Abingd.  213  (Rec.  Cum.). 
broD    Mod   Gl ">l  — 55. 


HENRY    II.  183 

tria'  et  monachis  ecclesiam  Sancti  Gundlei,  ct  quod 
Herewaldus  tunc  Landavensis  episcopus,  a  manibus 
Robert  i  de  Haya  receptam  abbati  Serloni  Gloucestrise 
tradidit,  et  eum  inde  canonice  investivit.  Sed  et  alios 
duos  ejus  audivimus  testes  laycos,  cum  uno  sacerdote, 
testificantes  se  vidisse  monaehos  in  possessione  ecclesise 
Sancti  Gundlei,  et  eosdem  monacbos  fructus  percipere, 
et  quod  sub  nostro  conspectu  testati  sunt,  consequenter 
j  u  ra  mento  con  fir  ma  verunt. 

Ista  audivimus  et  vidimus,  et  lisec  testamur,  etc.1 

[Theobald  reports  that  he  gave  judgment  accordingly,  but  that  the 
defendant,  earl  of  G.,  refused  obedience.  He  asks  for  an  enforce- 
ment of  the  judgment.  ] 

Theobaldus,  Dei  gratia  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopus, 
Anglorum  primas,  Apostolicse  Sedis  legatus,  venerabili- 
bus  fratribus  et  amicis  Roberto  Batboniensi,  et  Jobanni 
Wygorniensi  episcopis,  salutem.  Quod  a  nobis  super 
ecclesia  Beati  Gundlei  gestum  est,  et  qua  ratione  earn 
Hamelino  abbati  et  monachis  Gloucestrise,  restituimus, 
praesenti  scripto  vobis  significamus. 

Quoniam  igitur  W.  comes  Gloucestrise  ad  diem  per- 
emptorium,  ante  nostram  praesentiam,  omnino  apparere 
contempsit,  et  Hamelino  abbati  et  monachis  Gloucestrise 
super  ecclesia  Beati  Gundlei  respondere,  qua  eos  injuste 
spoliaverat,  sententia  canonica  dictante,  ipsi  abbati  et 
ejus  monachis  prsefatam  ecclesiam  canonice  restituimus. 
Quod  si  prsescriptus  comes  eos  contra  sententiam  diffini- 
tivain,  qua  ill  am  ecclesiam  adepti  sunt,  et  a  nobis  inde 
investiti,  vexare  prsesumpserit,  ecclesiastica  ultione  eum 
secundum  officium  vobis  per  dyceceses  vestras  injunctum 
coerceatis  et  compescatis,  et  sententiam  quam  dominus 
Landavensis  episcopus  in  eum  borum  occasione  protulerit 

>Sic. 


184>  PLACITA    ANGLO-XORMANXICA. 

ct    yobis   denunciaverit   firmiter    per   vcstras   dyceeeses 

observari  praecipiatis  quousque  resipiscat,  et  aid  at  a  integre 

eis  restituat. 

[Record  of  judgment  against  Picot,  a  clerk,  inducted  into  St.  Gund- 
ley  apparently  by  earl  William  j  trial  before  a  synod  on  oath  of 
witnesses.] 

Yenerabili  domino  patri  suo  carissimo  Theobaldo,  Dei 
gratia  Cantuariensi  archiepiscopo,  Anglorum  primati  et 
Apostolicae  Sedis  legato,  Nicholaus,  Landavensis  ecclesiae 
minister  humilis_,salutem  et  devotam  obedientiam.  Cele- 
brata  synodo  apud  Kayrdif  juxta  mandatum  vestrum, 
delecte  pater,  quae  per  abbatem  Gloucestriae  ibidem  ac- 
cepimus,  diligenter  inquisivimus  veritatem  causae  quae 
inter  ipsum  abbatem  et  Picotum  clericum  agitabatur 
super  ecclesia  Sancti  Gundlei  de  Novo  Burgo  ;  et  tandem 
judicio  synodi  mandati  vestri  formam  secutae,  aceeptis 
prius  legitiinorum  testium  juramentis  tarn  super  mona- 
chatu  Picoti  quam  super  possessione  abbatis,  Glouces- 
trensem  ecclesiam  in  possessionem  praefatae  ecclesia) 
Sancti  Gundlei  qua  fuerat  absque  ordine  judiciario  desti- 
tuta,  reduximus.  Et  quoniam  eandem  ecclesiam  ad  jus 
Gloucestrensis  ecclesiaepertineretotius  synodi  rccordatione 
cognovimus,  supplicandum  duximus  paternitati  vestrae 
ut,  confirmato  quod  a  nobis  actum  est,  ita  prasdictae 
ecclesiae  foveatis  justitiam,  ne  denuo  quod  injuste  diu 
passa  est  detrimentum  incurrat.     Valeatis,  etc.1 

[Theobaldjs  writ  of  confirmation  of  the  judgment,  with  direction  to 
induct  the  abbot  of  Gloucester  into  the  church  of  St.  Gundley.] 

Theobaldus,  Dei  gratia  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopuSj 
Anglorum  primas,  et  Apostolicae  Sedis  lcgatus,  venerabili 
fratri  et  amico  Nicholao,  Landavensi  episcopo,  salu- 
fcem.     Accepimus  ex  tenore  litterarum  vestrarum  quod 

1  Sic. 


IIKNKY     It.  185 

judicio  synodi  Landavensis  ecclesiae,  ecclesia  Sancti 
Gundlei  dc  Novo  Burgo  restituta  sit  etiam  vestra  auc- 
toritate  abbati  et  monacbis  Gloucostrcnsis  monasterii. 
Nos  ergo  judicium  illud  ratum  habemus,  et  quod  hide 
fecistis  patrocinari  per  omnia  volumus.  Si  vero  clavem 
ecclesia?  quis  detineat,  ut  dicitur,  vos  ad  ecclesiam  illam 
in  persona  vestra  accedatis,  et  nisi  sacrilegus  ille  detentam 
clavem  reddiderit,  vos  clavem  novam  nostra  auctoritate 
faciatis,  et  ecclesiam  aperiatis  et  corporalem  investituram 
abbati  Gloucestriae,  tarn  de  ecclesia  Sancti  Gundlei  quam 
de  domibus  et  officinis  et  omnibus  ad  earn  pertinentibus, 
absque  dilatione  exliibeatis.  Et  si  quis  vobis  restiterit, 
vel  abbati  beneficia  ecclesia?  detinuent,  vel  quamlil)et 
molestiam  ei  irrogaverit,  vos  eum  ecclesiastica  disciplina 
coerceatis,  et  in  omnibus  confidenter  agatis,  quia  in  hac 
re  pro  ecclesia  Gloucestriee  per  omnia  vobis  validum  prse- 
stabimus  patrocinium.     Valete. 

[Another  confirmation  by  Theobald  to  all  men  of  the  church,  record- 
ing the  judgment  that  had  been  rendered  by  his  bishops  in  favour 
of  the  abbot  of  Gloucester.] 

Teobaldus,  Dei  gratia  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopus, 
totius  Angliae  primas,  Apostolicse  Sedis  legatus,  venerabili 
fratri  et  amico  Nicholao,  Landavensi  episcopo,  et  universis 
aliis  Sanctae  Ecclesia3  fidelibus,  salutem.  Visis  cartis 
monasterii  Beati  Petri  Gloucestria?,  et  juramento  mul- 
torum  testium  sana3  opinionis  accepto  super  ecclesia  Beati 
Gundlei  de  Novo  Burgo,  ex  quibus  cum  aliquotiens  con- 
troversia  in  nostra  prsesentia  inter  Willelmum  comitem 
Gloucestriae  et  Hamelinum  abbatem  prsefati  monasterii 
super  eadem  ecclesia  agitata  fuisset,  intelligentes  illam 
ecclesiam  ad  jus  jam  dicti  monasterii  pertinere,  consilio 
venerabilium  nostrorum,  videlicet  Hillarii  Cycestrensis, 
et  Roberti  Bathoniensis,    et  Jocelini    Saresbiriensis,  et 


180  PLA.C1TA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Nigvlli  Elyonsis,  ct  Nicholai  Landavensis  opiscoponun, 
praedictam  ecclesiam  Beati  Gundlei  abbati  ct  monachis 
Gloucestriae  adjudicavimus.  Deinde  inspecta  carta  prae- 
fati  comitis,  advocati  hujus  ecclesiae,  qua  illam  ecclesiam 
cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  suis  praedicto  monasterio  liberam 
et  quietam  in  perpetuum  concessit,  et  dedit,  ct  confirma- 
vit;  ne,  lapsu  temporum,  quod  vel  ante  nos  vel  per  nos 
super  eadem  ecclesia  factum  est,  in  irritum  posset  revocari, 
auctoritate  qua  fungimur  saepedictam  ecclesiam  cum  om- 
nibus ad  earn  pertinentibus  monasterio  Gloucestriae  in 
elemosinam  perpetuam  concessimus,  et  pra3sentis  scripti 
muuimine  confirmamus ;  ct  cam  ita  confirmatam  in  per- 
petuum esse  concedimus.  Usee  autem  confirmatio  facta 
est  in  anno  millesimo  centesimo  quinquagesimo  sexto  ab 
Incarnatione  Domini,  et  decimo  septimo  kalendas  Junii. 
Valete. 

[Confirmation    by    Nicholas,    bishop    of    Llandaff,     recording    the 
judgment .  | 

Universis  San  etas  Matris  Eeclesiae  filiis,  Nicholaus,  Dei 
gratia  Landavensis  episcopus,  salutem  ct  benedictionem. 
Noverit  caritas  vestra,  quod  concedimus,  et  prsesenti  carta 
confirmamus,  eeclesiae  Sancti  Petri  Gloucestriae  ecclesiam 
Sancti  Gundlei  de  Novo  Burgo  cum  omnibus  ad  earn 
pertinentibus.  Celebrata  namque  synodo  apud  Kayrdif 
totius  cleri,  recordatione  cognovimus  eandem  ad  jus 
monachorum  Gloucestriae  pertinerej  et  praecedente  domini 
Cantuariensis  mandato,  et  regis  Henrici  juniorie  praecepto, 
Hamelinum  abbatem  Gloucestriae  el  monachos  suos  retro- 
actis  earn  temporibus  possedisse  legitimis  testibus  eom- 
probavit,  el  probatam  possessionem  totius  synodi  judicio 
recuperavit.  Volumus  igitur  e1  praecipimus  ul  monacbi 
Gloucestriae  quiete  possideanl  in  perpetuum  prsedictam 
ecclesiam  cum  omnibus  ad  earn  pertinentibus.     El  ue  ab 


HENRY    II.  187 

ali(|UO  dcinceps  injnste  super  eaclem  fatigetur  sub  ana- 
fchemate  prohibemus. 

[Another  confirmation  by  Nicholas.] 
Nicholaus,  Dei  gratia  Landaveusis  episcopus,  universis 
Sanctae  Ecclesiw  fidelibus,  salutem  et  dilectionem  in 
Domino.  Quod  a  majoribus  nostris,  ratione  et  justitia 
dictante,  coustitutum  est,  hoc  merito  ratum  habere  et 
confirmare  debemus.  Unde  est  quod  ecclesiara  Sancti 
Gundlei  de  Novo  Burgo,  ecclesiae  Beati  Petri  de 
Gloucestria  a  domino  et  patre  nostro  Theobaldo  Cantua- 
riensi  archiepiscopo  adjudicatam,  cum  omnibus  perti- 
nentiis  suis,  quantum  ad  nos  spectat,  concedimus.  Et 
ut  judicium  hoc,  cui  interfuimus,  et  recto  juris  tramite 
factum  esse  non  ambigimus,  illibatum  permaneat, 
memoratam  ecclesiam  Sancti  Gundlei  ecclesiae  Sancti 
Petri,  et  Hamelinoabbati  et  monachis  Gloucestriae  sigilli 
nostri  munimine  confirmamus.     Valete. 

[The  following  letter  of  Nicholas  appears  to  relate  to  the  same 
litigation  : — ]' 

Venerabili  domino  et  patri  suo  carissimo  Theobaldo, 
Cantuariensi  Dei  gratia  archiepiscopo,  Anglorum  primati, 
et  Apostolicae  Sedis  legato,  Nicholaus,  Landavensis 
ecclesiae  minister,  salutem  et  debitam  cum  omni  devo- 
tione  obedientiam.  Noverit  paternitas  vestra  Johannem, 
Dunewaldum,  et  Uganum,  Gilebertum,  et  Jacobum, 
Uganum,  et  Ruelen,  quos  abbas  Gloucestriye  in  causa 
super  ecclesia  de  Novo  Burgo  testes  produxit  in  prse- 
sentia  nostra,  boni  testimonii  viros,  et  eomprovincialiuni 
suorum  judicio  tales  esse  qui  merito  debeant  in  testimo- 
nium veritatis  admitti,  siquidem  quatuor  ex  ipsis  Johan- 
nem scilicet,  et   Dunewaldum,  Gilebertum,  et  Uganum, 

1  Cluon.  Moii.  Glouc.  56  (Kec.  Com.). 


188  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

ad  sacros  ordines  canonice  primatos  fuisse,  et  a  die 
ordinationis  suae  in  officio  sacerdotali  usque  nunc 
irreprehensabiliter  ministrasse,  alios  vero  tres  dies  suos 
innocenter  et  sine  querela  duxisse  cognovimus.  Testi- 
monium autem  eorum  non  solum  fa  ma  consentiens 
roborat,  verum  etiam  et  nos  ab  aliis  legitimis  viris  qui 
in  praesenti  vita  adhuc  supersunt  necnon  et  ab  aliis  qui 
jam  universal  carnis  viam  ingressi  sunt.  Idem  quod 
ipsi  asserunt  se  vidisse  dudum  accepimus,  cum  ecclesia 
Gloucestrise  motam  saepius  diebus  prsedecessorum  meorum 
super  praedicta  ecclesia  controversiam  suscitaret.  Extant 
et  alii,  tarn  de  hominibus  comitis  Gloucestriae  quam  de 
alienis,  qui  veritatem  abscondunt  malivolentiam  ipsius 
incurrere  metuentes,  sed  ad  earn  testificandum,  si  necesse 
fuerit  abbati,  vestra  poterunt  si  placet  auctoritate 
compelli.     Valete. 


[Monks  of  Bordsley.     About  1156.] ' 

[Writ  of  Nigel,  bishop  of  Ely,  directing  the  sheriff  of  Gloucester  to 
protect  the  plaintiffs  in  the  possession  of  certain  lands,  and  fco 
do  right  to  them  upon  the  men  who  did  violence  to  them,  con- 
trary to  the  king's  writs.] 

Nigellus  Eliensis  episcopus  et  baro  de  Scaccario,  vice- 
comiti  de  Glowecestrescira  salutem.  Praecipimus  tibi, 
ut  facias  monachos  de  Bordesleia  tenere  suam  terram  de 
Cumbe  bene  et  in  pace,  sicut  saisiti  sunt  per  breve  regis. 
Et  vide  ut  habeas  ad  opus  regis  quod  rectum  est  de  illis 
qui  vim  intulerunt  prsedictis  monachis  super  brevia 
regis.  Testibus  \Yillelmo  Cumin  et  Johanne  Marescallo 
apud  Westmonasteriuin. 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exoh.  1  \'2  (fol.  ed.). 


HENRY    II.  189 

[Church  of  York  v.  Church  of  Gloucester.      1157.] l 

[Record  of  judgment  of  composition  between  the  parties  as  to  certain 
lands ;  the  dispute  having  been  carried  to  the  pope,  and  by  him 
delegated  to  certain  bishops,  and  the  trial  finally  taking  place 
before  bishops,  abbots,  deacons,  archdeacons,  priors,  canons, 
constables,  barons,  and  stewards.] 

Rogerius,  Dei  gratia  Eboracensis  archiepiseopus,  et 
Robert  us  secundus  decanus,  et  totum  Eboracensis 
ecclesise  capitulum,  universis  Sanctse  Matris  Ecclesise 
filiis,  salutem  et  benedietionem.  Ne  quod  ad  ecclesise 
pacem  perpetuam  et  quietem  pia  bonorum  sollicitudine 
procuratum  est,  valeat  in  posterum  quacunque  cujuslibet 
macbinatione,  dolo,  vel  malignitate  rescindi,  scripto 
prsesenti  testificandum  et  vestrse  communicandum  notitise 
duximus,  quis  protractse  aliquamdiu  inter  Eboracensem 
ecclesiam  et  Gloucestriam  supra  hiis  terris  Berthone, 
Stanedis,  Leccbe,  Otintone,  controversia3  finis  extiterit. 
Illustris  siquidem  et  carissimi  domini  nostri  regis 
Anglorum  Henrici  secundi,  episcoporum  etiam  quibus 
erat  a  domino  papa  Adriano  quarto  causae  ipsius 
cognitio  delegata,  Roberti  videlicet  Bathoniensis,  Jocelini 
Saresburiensis,  Roberti  Exoniensis,  aliorum  quoque 
plurimorum  consilio,  et  monitis  acquiescentes,  elegimus 
amicali  magis  compositione  rem  finire,  quam  in  alteru- 
trius  partis  gravamen  sentential  judicialis  ambiguo  fini 
submittere. 

Transactionis  itaque  modus  hie  est.  Ecclesia  Glou- 
cestrise,  de  terris  ipsis  qua?  in  calumnia  fuerant,  concessit 
viginti  quatuor  libratas  Eboracensi  ecclesise,  pro  quibus 
dedit  ei  totam  Otintonam  cum  hominibus  qui  in  ea 
erant  et  omnibus  pertinentiis  suis,  et  duas  bidas  terras  in 
Cundicote  cum  pertinentiis  eorum,   et  totam  Scerdin- 

1  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  105  (Rec.  Com.). 


190  PLA.CITA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

tonam  cum  hominibus  qui  in  ea  erant  ct  omnibus 
pertinentiis  suis  in  eadem  Ebofacensi  ecclesia,  a  lite 
quam  adversus  Grloucestrensem  ecelesiam  intendant, 
omnino  recedent.  Ecclesia  vero  Eboracensis,  in  praesentia 
regis  et  totius  curia?  ipsius  audientia,  calumniae  el  juri 
siquid   habebat    in    Berthone,  Stanedis,  et   Lecche,  sive 

mbris  earum  et  appendiciis  omnibus  atque  pertinentiis 

prseter  supramemoratam  Serdintonam,  in  perpetuum 
renunciavit  ex  tot<>,  ita  nimirum  quod  nunquam  ab  hac 
deinceps  compositione  resiliet;  neque  per  se,  neque  per 
alium  futuris  temporibus  Gloucestrensis  ecclesia?  super 
liiis  quae  prsedkimus  ullam  omnino  molestiam,  inquietu- 
dinem,  vel  controversiam  suscitabit. 

Hsec  autem  facta  fuerunt  anno  Dominica?  Incarnatio- 
nis  millesimo  centesimo  quinquagesimo  septimo,  idus 
Decembris,  apud  Gloucestriam,  sub  prsesentia,  sicut 
dictum  est,  regis  et  eorum  quos  supramemoravimus 
episcoporum,  testimonio  etiam  venerabilium  virorum 
Gileberti  Herefordensis,  Nicholai  Landavensis  episcopo- 
rum,  Regerii  Teokesbirise,  Reginaldi  Persoreusis,  Gervasii 
Wynchecumbensis,  Reginaldi  Radingensis  abbatum, 
Radulfi  Herefordensis,  Yvonis  Wellensis  decanorum, 
Rogeri  de  Ramesbiria,  Jordani  Saresbiriensis  archidia- 
conorum,  Petri  Bathoniensis,  Walteri  Abbendoniensis 
priorum,  Hugonis  de  Cli  Horde,  Gaufridi  de  Clifforde 
canonicorum  Herefordise,  Radulfi  Anglici,  Petri  fratris 
episcopi  Exoniensis,  canonicorum  Exoniae,  Roberti  comi- 
tis  Ligrecestriae,  Patricii  comitis  Saresbiriensis,  Henrici 
de  Exessa  constabularii  regis,  Humfridi  de  Bohun, 
Ricardi  de  Lucy,  Ricardi  de  Humez,  Henrici  de 
Pontefracto,  Walteri  de  Herefordia,  W.  de  Bellicampo, 
Willelmi  lilii  Johannis,  Henrici  deOilly,  Helyae  Giffardi, 
el    Helise  lilii  ejus,   Rogeri  de  Berkelay,  baronum  regis, 


HENRY   II.  191 

Roberti  de  Wattevilla,  Henrici  de  Ilcrefordia,  Manaser 
Biseth  dapiforum  regis. 

Compositionem  banc  per  memet  ipsum  et  eos  qui 
mecum  gerebant  istud  Eboracensis  ecclesiae  negotium, 
scilicet  Willelmum  cantorem  Eboracensem,  Jobannem 
thesaurarium,  Robertum  tunc  quidem  arcbidiaconum, 
postea  vero  decanum  Eboracensem,  et  Tbomam  prae- 
positum  Beverlaci  et  regis  cancellarium,1  Willelmum 
arcbidiaconum  Notingbamije,  Jobannem  filium  Letoldi 
canonicum  Eboraci,  Osbertum  Arundel  canonicum  Bever- 
laci, primo  quidem  coram  curia  regis  hinc  inde  con- 
cessam,  deinde  vero  tarn  assensu  totius  capituli  quam 
sigillo  ecclesiae  Eboracensis  in  ea  qua?  sequent!  anno, 
pridie  nonas  Maii,  celebrata  fuit  Eboraci  synodo, 
roboratam,  ut  rata  sit  et  in  perpetuum  inconcussa 
permaneat,  ego  Rogerius  archiepiscopus  Eboracensis 
impressione  sigilli  mei  subscriptione  manus  propria? 
confirmavi. 

[This  case,  as  appears  above,  had  previously  gone  to  the  pope  (be- 
tween 11-15  and  1153),  and  was  now  sent  back  for  trial.  While  before 
the  pope,  several  depositions  were  sent,  besides  charters  of  confirma- 
tion by  William  the  Conqueror,  Henry  I.,  and  Stephen,  all  on  behalf 
of  the  church  at  Gloucester.  Nothing  is  said  of  the  evidence  pro- 
duced on  the  other  side.  The  charter  of  William  the  Conqueror  ap- 
pears to  bo  in  confirmation  of  a  judgment  in  favour  of  the  church  at 
Gloucester  against  the  archbishop  of  York.  It  will  be  found  ante,  p.  29. 

The  depositions  sent  to  the  pope  were  as  follows : — ]  2 

Reverentissimo  patri  et  domino  Eugenio  summo  pon- 
tifici,  frater  Rogerus  abbas  Teokesburiae,  debitam  volun- 
taria  subjectione  reverentiam.  Sciens  neminem  dabere 
confundi  coram  sublimitate  vestra  pro  veritate  testi- 
monium perbibeo  veritati.  Quinquaginta  nimirum  et 
sex  annis  in  confiuio  Gloucestriae  vivens  in  habitu 
religionis,  omnibus  hiis   vidi   Gloucestrensem  ecclesiam 

1  Thomas  ;i  Rocket.  •  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  110-112. 


192  PLACITA  ax(;t.o-xoi;maxxica. 

terras  istas  Otintonam,  Lecche,  et  Stanedis,  continue 
tanquam  proprias  tenuisse.  Nihilominus  etiam  quantum 
e1  patrum  scriptis  et  eorundem  narratione  firrnari  potest, 
indubitanter  agnovi  quod  easdem  retroactis  temporibus 
ex  antiqua  Merciorum  principum  donatione  possederint. 
Hfec  itaque  vera  sciens  esse  tanquam  vera  testificor. 
Valeat  vestra  paternitas,  etc.1 

Patri  suo  et  domino  Summo  Pontifiei  Eugcnio,  frater 
Thomas  de  Peresore  dictus  abbas,  et  fratrum  ejusdem 
ecclesise  conventus  humilis,  voluntarium  siquid  possunt 
humili  devotione  servitium.  De  querela  quam  adversus 
ecelesiam  Gloucestriae  movit  archiepiscopus  Eboracensis, 
tarn  scriptorum  veritate,  quam  fide  digna  relatione,  ita 
nos  prsedecessorum  nostrorum  certificavit  auctoritas, 
quod  aliquatenus  dubitare  non  possumus  prsedictam 
ecelesiam  nihilominus  juris  habere  in  terris  quas  calum- 
niatur  dominus  Eboracensis,  videlicet  Lecehe,  Stanedis, 
et  Otintone,  quam  in  hiis  de  quibus  constat  quod  eas 
continue  a  prima  sui  fundatione  tenuerit.  Nam  sub 
rege  Merciorum  Adelredo,  emensis  inde  jam  quad- 
ringentis,  et  eo  amplius  annis  a  subregulo  Hunctiorum2 
Osrico  qui  regnum  postea  Nordanhimbrorum  obtinuit, 
in  quibusdam  earum  fundata,  quibusdam  vero  a  quodam 
iElmundo  ingeldinc,3  et  rege  itidem  Merciorum  Bernulfo 
postmodum  ampliata,  omni  etiam  setate  nostra  sic  easdem 
continue  possedit,  quod  nunquam  eis  ad  momentum 
destituta  i'uit.4  Habet  hujusmodi  Gloucestriae  ecclesia 
rationes  quibus  praedictarum  terrarum  tarn  possessionem 
quam  integrum  sibi  jus  suum  conservari  posse  confidit, 
si   ei  solummodo   patrocinii  vestra  gratia  non  defuerit, 

i    Sic  2  Wicciorum.  3  Probably  for  "  in  gcldingo." 

*  The  litigation  tenij).  William  I.  shows  that  this  was  not  true. 
Ante,  i>.  29. 


HENRY    II.  193 

cujus  si  ad  meritum  sanctitas  vestra  respexerit,  credimus 
quod  facile  a  vobis  opem  quam  desiderat  impetrabit. 
Ipsa  namque,  tarn  discipline  regularis  observantia,  quam 
sustentatione  pauperum  hospitalitate  laudabili,  omnium 
se  bonorum  favore  dignam  semper  exhibuit,  et  univer- 
sorum  quos  optimo  suae  sanctitatis  odore  perfudit  in 
amorem  sui  animos  et  corda  eonvertit.  Hsec  quia  vera 
scimus,  tanquam  vera  testificamur  opportuno  loco  et 
tempore  testimonium  nostrum  eo  quo  decreveritis  modo 
probaturi.  Valeat  in  aeternum  sanctitas  vestra  in 
Christo  dilecte  pater. 

Eugenio,  Dei  gratia  Summo  Pontifici  patri  suo  et 
domino,  Robertus  abbas  Alencestrise,  devotum  animum 
et  ad  obediendum  domino  patrique  pronitissimum. 
Sublimitati  vestra?,  dilecte  pater,  notum  facimus,  quod 
omnibus  propemodum  ecclesiis  in  episcopatu  Wygorniensi 
certum  esse  non  dubitamus,  siqua  namque  fides  an- 
tiquitati  habenda  est,  siqua  patribus  quibus  in  ordine  et 
religionis  institutione  suceessimus  exhibenda  auctoritas, 
eorum  etiam  que  ob  veritatis  attestationem  in  scripta 
publica  redacta  sunt,  si  quomodo  fida  relatio  de  jure 
Gloecestrensis  ecclesise  in  terris  biis  Stanedis,  Lecche, 
Ottintona,  dubitare  non  convenit  quam  a  diebus  antiquis 
in  hiis  fundatam  et  hiis  Merciorum  reg'um  largitione 
dotatam,  cronicorum  recordatio  et  prsedecessorum  nos- 
trorum  attestatio  ad  nos  devoluta  convincit.  Cunctis 
quippe  diebus  nostris  Gloucestrensem  ecclesiam  prsedictas 
terras  continue  usque  hodie  possedisse  cognovimus,  et 
earn,  ut  dictum  est,  ab  exordiis  suis  in  liiis  fundatam, 
scriptis  et  patrum  testimoniis  intelleximus ;  et  ne  in 
praesentia  vestra  obscuritatem  Veritas  patiatur,  sub- 
limitati vestrae  tarn  visa  quam  audita  sigiiificamus,  que 

o 


194  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOmrANNICA. 

etiam  juxta  mandati  vestri  auctoritatem,  si  fuerit  oppor- 
tunitas  concessa,  probare  parati  sumus.  Ad  honorem 
Ecclesia?  sua?  paternilatem  vestram  per  longa  temp'ora 
incolumem  divina  conservet  gratia,  in  Christo,  dilecte 
pater. 

Universis  Sancta?  Ecclesia?  filiis,  humilis  Lanthoniensis 
eonventus.  In  veritatis  testimonio  stare  est,  in  con- 
ventu  nostro  f rater  quidam  concanonicus  noster  W. 
filius  Odonis  vocatus,  vir  magnus  dum  saeculo  militaret, 
major  autem  modo  Deo  serviens,  qui  regi  Willelmo 
secundo  eollateralis  puer  audivit  totam  abbatiam  Glou- 
cestria?  archiepiscopo  Eboracensi  a  sede  sua  tempore 
persecutions  fugato,  tunc  abbate  vacantem,  ad  sui 
sustentationem  committi.  Pace  autem  reformata,  rediit 
archiepiscopus  ad  propria,  monachis  omnia  quae  acceperat 
sine  diminutione  relinqucns.  Et  exinde,  sicut  asserit 
pra?dictus  f  rater,  LXV.  annis  transactis  monachi  pra?- 
dicti  quiete  et  inconcusse  res  suas  possiderunt,  nominatim 
Stanedis,  Lecchc,  Bertlioue,  Otintoue,  qua?  proprii  esse 
juris  ecclesia?  Gloucestria?  testatur.  Hax:  ad  notitiam 
prsesentium  et  futurorum  scripta  et  sigillo  nostro  sig- 
nata  relinquimus.  Ha?c  frater  saepedictus  in  conspectu 
omnium  loco  et  tempore  paratus  erit  probare,  sicut  jus 
dictaverit  et  ratio.  Valeatis,  et  mutuum  orationis  munus 
nobis  impendite. 

Eugenio,  Dei  gratia  Summo  Pontifici,  patri  suo  et 
domino,  lladulplms,  prior  et  eonventus  Sancta?  Marin- 
W  ygornensis  ecclesia;,  salutem  et  debita?  famulatum 
obediential.  Sanctae  sublimitati  vestra?,  pater  reveren- 
tissiinc,  ecripto  notificamus  qua?  vel  scriptis  vel  patrum 


HENRY    II.  ]95 

testimoniis  vera  esse  intelligere  potuimus  do  jure  Glouces- 
trensis  ecclesia  in  hiis  terris,  videlicet  Stanedis,  Lecche, 
et  Otintona.  Siquidem  cronicorum  recordatione  et  pree- 
decessorum  nostrorum  attestatione  didicimus  Glouces- 
trensem  ecclesiam  a  diebus  antiquis  in  hiis  supradictis 
terris  fuisse  fundatam,  et  regum  Merciorum  largitione 
hiis  dotatam.  Cunetis  etiam  diebus  nostris  vidimus  et 
cognovimus  eandem  Gloucestrensem  ecclesiam  praenomi- 
natas  terras  continue  usque  hodie  possedisse,  et  earn,  ut 
diximus,  ab  exordiis  suis  in  hiis  fundatam  fuisse.  Haec 
ita  con  stare  quemadmodum  vestrae  sublimitati  suggeri- 
mus,  juxta  vestrae  discretionis  auctoritatem  et  prudential 
dispensationem,  probare  parati  sumus.  Valeat  per  longa 
tempora  ad  honorem  Ecclesia3  sua?  piissima  paternitas 
vestra,  etc.1 

Patri  suo  et  domino  Summo  Pontifici  Eugenio,  frater 
Ricardus,  Eveshamensis  ecclesia?  dictus  prior,  et  humilis 
ejusdem  ecclesiae  conventus,  debitum  in  omnibus  obedien- 
tiae  famulatum.  Fratrum,  domine,  caritate  commoniti 
testimonium  damus  veritati,  testificantes  cum  fiducia 
quod  ab  illis  certa  relatione  cognovimus,  de  quorum 
probata  religione  non  dubitamus.  Constat  enim  quod 
mancria  ilia  quae  sibi  vendicat  dominus  Eboracensis, 
scilicet  Lecche,  Stanedis,  et  Otintone,  ad  dominium 
Gloucestrensis  ecclcsiae  de  legitima  ratione  pertineant,  ea 
namque  sibi  a  longe  retroactis  temporibus  Merciorum 
prineipum  largitione  donata,  cunetis  utique  diebus  vitae 
nostrae  sic  tenuit  ut  eorum  possessione  continua,  nee  ad 
momentum  aliquando  destituta  sit.  Haec  vulgo  nota 
sunt,  adeoque  omnibus  ista  inculcavit  antiquitas,  ut  pauci 
sint  apud  nos  qui  non  haec  a  patribus  audita  cognoverint 

i  Sic. 

o  2 


190  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOUMANNICA. 

et  memorise  commendaverint.  Unde  et  nos  ad  haec  pro- 
banda  quae  diximus  prout  Ipsi  jusseritis  parati  sumus. 
Yakut  iii  perpetuum  pater  et  noster  dominus. 

Universis  Sanctse  Matris  Ecclesiae  filiis,  David  Wygor- 
niensis  coenobii  quondam  prior,  salutem.      In  extremo 
dierum  meorum   positus,  veritatem    rei    vobis    insinuo, 
super  calumnia  quam  Eboracensis  archiepiscopus  liabet 
adversus  ecclesiam  Beati  Petri  Gloucestriae,  quatinus  vos 
idem  communiter  sapiatis,  et  si  necesse  fuerit  tanquam 
veritatis  filii  testimonium    vestrum    huic    veritati    non 
negetis.     Ego  ipse,  si  quando  tractandum  est  placitum 
interesse  daretur,  candentem  ferri  laminam  vel  quicquid 
eequitas  justitiae  dictaret  amplecterer,  nihil  hesitans.   Hoc 
igitur  coram  Deo  et  Sanctis  ejus  contestor,  quod  ecclesia 
Beati  Petri    Gloucestriae   villas  istas,  scilicet  Berthone, 
Lecehe,  Otintone,  ab  ipso  tempore  sanctimonialium  quae 
prius  ibidem  habitaverunt,  possedit  et  possidet ;  Stanedis 
vero  ex  donatione  Beornulplii  comitis  conseeuta  est.     Et 
licet  Aldredus  ecclesia3  nostras  episcopus,  qui  postea  Ebora- 
censis archiepiscopus,  aliquamdiu  Lecehe,  Stanedis,  Otin- 
tone,  ob  quod  construendum  supranominatum  monaste- 
rium  Beati  Petri  Gloucestriae  permissione  Wlstani  abbatis 
cognati    sui     retinuerit,    Berthonam    autem   nunquam, 
neque  in  praedictis  maneriis  eadem  ecclesia  plenarie  domi- 
nationis  jus  vel  investituram  amisit.     Hoc   in   cartis  et 
cronieis   legi.     Hoc    ex    relatione   veridicorum    testium 
cognovi  et  didici.     Hoc  ego  testimonium  veritatem   scire 
volentibus  sigilli  mei  impressione  confirmavi.     Hujus  rei 
sunt  testes  llobertus  vcnerabilis  abbas  Alecestriae  bonae 
memoriae  et  magnae  auctoritatis,  Warinus  prior  Wy  go  rniao, 
totusque  conventus  ejusdem  ecclesiae.     Valete. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  the  offer  of  proof  by  these  deponents ; — 


HENRY    II.  197 

in  several  cases,  in  such  manner  as  may  bo  ordered,  and  in  the  last 
case,  by  the  ordeal  of  fire;— like  the  act  of  the  parties  to  a  trial. 
Thus  was  supplied  the  place  of  the  sanctity  of  an  oath.  Compare 
Rainaldus  v.  Abbot  of  Gloucester,  post. 


[Abbot  Walkelin  v.  Turstin  Basset.     1158  ?]1 

[Abbot  Walkelin,  alleging  that  he  has  been  disseised  by  the  defendant 
of  a  certain  tithe,  obtains  a  writ  from  the  king  commanding  his 
restoration  upon  establishing  bis  claim  (the  writ  also  providing 
for  the  trial  of  the  right  to  certain  land  in  the  possession  of  the 
defendant).  The  trial  comes  on,  and  the  plaintiff  recovers  the 
tithe  by  the  testimony  of  the  county.  As  to  the  land,  see  ante, 
p.  167. 

Tempore  quo  Turstinus  Simonis  Alius  terram  et  ecelesiam 
de  Mereham,  ut  supra  diximus,2  in  juste  tenebat,  decimam 
quoque  ejusdem  villse  saisavit,  quae  ad  ecelesiam  illam 
non  pertinebat,  sed  ad  luminare  altaris  hujus  ecclesise. 
Ea  de  causa  quidam  ex  fratribus  ad  regem  trans  mare 
dirigitur,  ut  per  ejus  justitiam  et  auctoritatem  rectum 
suum  ecclesise  restitueretur.  Quod  et  ita  factum  est; 
rediens  enim  frater,  qui  missus  fuerat,  breve  a  rege 
transmissum  in  haec  verba  reportavit : 

HenricuSj  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitanise, 
et  comes  Andegavise,  vicecomiti  suo  et  ministris  suis  de 
Berchescira,  salutem.  Si  ecclesia  de  Abbendona  babuit 
decimam  de  Mercham  ad  luminare  ecclesise,  tempore 
Henrici  regis,  avi  mei,  et  anno  et  die  qua  fuit  mortuus 
et  vivus,  et  post,  et  inde  sit  dissaisita  injuste  et  sine 
judicio,  tunc  prseeipio  quod  sine  dilatione  inde  earn 
resaisiatis ;  et  ita  bene,  et  in  pace,  et  libere,  et  juste,  et 
quiete,  tenere  faciatis  sicut  melius  et  liberius  tenuit  tem- 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  22.')  (Rec.  Com.).  »  Ante,  p.  167. 


198  PLACITA   ANGL0-N0KMANN1CA. 

pore  Henrici  regis,  avi  mei.  Et  prax'ipio  quod  quando 
Turstinus  Alius  Simonis  redierit  in  Angliam  quod  abbas 
Abbendoniae  plenum  rectum  habeat  de  terra  quam 
praedictus  Turstinus  filius  Simonis  tenet  de  feudo  abbatia* ; 
et  si  abbas  poterit  disrationare  quod  non  defecerit  de  recto 
praedicto  Turstinus  in  curia  sua,  abbas  inde  ei  in  curia  sua 
rectum  teneat.  Teste  magistro  Johanne  de  Oxeneford  ; 
apud  Turonis. 

Cum  vero  perlectum  esset  regis  breve  in  pleno  comitatu, 
et  manifesto  compertum,  totius  comitatus  testimonio, 
quoniam  praefata  decima  ad  luminare  altaris  Sanctae 
MariaB  pertineret,  et  quod  earn  Turstinus  injuste  tenebat, 
vicecomes,  ex  parte  regis,  ilium  dissaisiavit  et  earn  altari 
cui  adjacebat  restituit.  Qualiter  autem  ecclesia  cum 
terra  coram  rege  disrationata  fuerit,  superius  in  gestis 
venerandi  abbatis  Vincentii  memoravimus.1 

The  abovo  writ  appears  to  unite  the  purposes  of  the  writ  of  novel 
disseisin  and  the  writ  of  right,  though  as  to  distinct  properties. 


[Men    of    Wallingford    and    Oxford    v.    Abbot 
Walkelin.     1158  ?]2 

[At  the  suit  of  men  of  Walliugford  and  Oxford,  the  king  (being  in 
Normandy)  prohibits  the  abbot  of  Abingdon  from  holding  mar- 
ket, except  for  the  sale  of  cheap  articles,  until  he  can  return  and 
try  the  right  of  market  claimed  by  the  abbot,  and  denied  by  the 
men  of  W.  and  0.  Violence  on  both  sides  follows ;  the  king's 
constable  of  Wallingford  having  proceeded  to  enforce  the  king's 
writ.     Tho  men  of  W.  and  0.  now  hasten  to  the  king  and  obtain 


1  Ante,  p.  167.  -  2  Eist.  Mon.  Abingd.  227  (Kec.Com.). 


HENRY    II.  109 

another  writ  directing  the  earl  of  Leicester  to  ascertain  by  in- 
quisition whether  tho  church  of  Abingdon  had  exercised  a  full 
market  in  tho  time  of  Ilenry  I.,  and  to  give  judgment  accord- 
ingly. The  inquisition  of  the  full  county  results  in  favour  of  tho 
abbot.  On  the  king's  return  the  men  of  W.  and  0.  obtain  a  writ 
of  false  judgment  against  tho  abbot,  on  tho  ground  of  perjury  of 
some  of  the  inquisitors.  Trial  under  this  writ  takes  place  in  tho 
County  Court  of  Berkshire,  before  the  king's  justiciars,  each  side 
electing  old  men  of  impartiality.  Tho  court  is  divided  in  opinion 
as  to  the  extent  of  the  market  enjoyed  by  tho  church  in  the  time 
of  Henry  I.  The  earl  of  Leicester,  who  presided,  now  goes  to 
the  king  and  reports  the  division,  at  the  same  time  testifying 
that  he  had  seen  the  church  of  Abingdon  in  the  exercise  of  full 
market ;  and  the  king  gives  judgment  accordingly.] 

In  primo  tempore  adventus  abbatis  Walkelini  ad  hanc 
ecclesiam,  adierunt  regem  istum  Henricum  juniorem 
Walingefordenses  cum  iis  de  Oxeneforde,  de  foro  ei 
Abbeudonensi  suggerentes  quoniam  aliter  esset  quam 
esse  deberet,  vol  Henrici  regis,  avi  sui,  tempore  fuerit. 
Malta  prseterea  verborum  dolositate  et  fallaciis  insistebant, 
ut  regis  assensum  de  foro  defendendo  adquirerent.  Qui- 
bus  cum  rex  credendum  putaret,  preecepit  quidem  interim 
mercatum  defendi,  prater  parva  venalia  quse  ibi  vendi 
solebant,  quousque  ipse  de  transmarinis  partibus,  ad  quas 
tunc  properabat,  reverteretur,  et  super  hoc  causam  sub- 
tilius  examinaret.  Illi  vero,  aecepta  potestate,  a  fori 
defensione,  donee  rex  transfretaret,  abstinuerunt ;  sed 
postea,  quasi  libero  utentes  malitise  suae  impetu,  assumpto 
secum  regis  constabulario  de  Walingeford,  die  Dominico, 
Abbendoniam  advenerunt,  ex  regis  verbo  omnes,  qui 
venalia  sua  illuc  detulerant,  abire  proscipientes,  rusticisquc 
vim  inferentes.  Abbendonenses  autem,  fori  sui  defen- 
sionem  graviter  ferenteSj  assumpta  nescio  unde  audacia, 
omnes  qui  advenerant  adversarios  cum  dedecore  a  villa 
longius  abegerunt.  Qua  repulsione  amplius  adversarii 
ad  malum  instigati,  regis  in  patriam  adventum  non  ex- 
pectantes,  ad  cum  ubi  erat  venerunt,  et  qualiter  cis  (non 


200  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

sine  magna  injuria  regis)  evenerit,  multa  euperaddentes 
vana,  retexerunt.  Importunitati  quorum  cum  legis 
sequitate  satisfacere  volens,  quodam  eis  breve  tradito, 
repatriare  permisit.1  Revertentes  vero,  et  prorsus  Tori 
Abbendonensis  eversionem  in  litteris  contineri  putantes, 
ad  justitiam  Anglise,  Robertum  videlicet  comitem  Lege- 
cestriae,2  pervenerunt.  Lectum  ergo  est  coram  justitia, 
abbate  Walkelino  assistente,  breve  hujuseemodi  habens 
sensum : 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitaniae, 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  Roberto  comiti  Legecestriae,  sal  li- 
tem. Praecipio  ut,  convocato  omni  conventu  Berchesire, 
XXIIII.  homines  de  senioribus  qui  Henrici  regis,  avi 
mei,  tempore  fuerunt,  eligere  facias.  Qui  si  jurare 
poterint  quod  in  diebus  ejus  plenum  mercatum  in  Abben- 
donia  fuerit,  ita  sit  et  nunc.  Si  vero  nee  viderint,  nee 
jurare  poterint,  ut  rectum  est,  prohibeatur,  ne  amplius 
inde  clamorem  audiam. 

Quo  perlecto,  confusi  sunt  a  spe  sua  qui  porta verant, 
utpote  de  veritate  sibi  conscii.  Pra?cipiente  tamen  comite, 
Adam  vicecomes  comitatum  plenum  apud  Ferneburgam 
congregans,  homines,  qui  secundum  regis  praeceptum 
jurare  deberent,  electos  constituit,  qui  cum  juramento 
asseruerunt  se  rerum  omnium  venalium  mercatum  plenis- 
simum  inibi  vidisse  et  interfuisse. 

His  itafinem  habentibus,  et  rege  ad  regnum  propriun) 
revertente,  convenerunt  ad  cum  jurgatores  praedicti,  lin- 
gentes  juramentum  falsum  factum  fuisse,  et — quia  qui- 
dam  eorum  qui  juraverant  de  abbatia  erant — quod  eis 
utile  videbatur, et  noD  quod  rei  Veritas  docebat,  protulisse. 

1    Permitted  them  tn  return  to  England. 

-  Robert  <le  Beaumont,  earl  of  Leicester,  chief  justiciar,  1154 
—1162. 


HENRY    II.  201 

His  verbis  vox  aliquantulum  commotus,  praecepit  ut  apud 
Oxeneforde  iterum  Walingefordenses  et  omnis  comitatus 
Berchescire  coram  justiciis  suis  convenirent ;  et  ex  utraque 
parte  seniores  viri  eligerentur,  qui,  secundum  quod  eis 
vcniin  videretur,  pro  foro  Abbendonensi  jurarent.  Ita 
tamen  ut  do  abbatia  nullus  de  jurantibus  esset,  ne  sus- 
piearentur  aliqua  de  causa  velle  pejurare.  Quod  cum 
praecepisset  rex ;  ad  Saresberiam  profectus  est,  omnibus 
justiciis  suis  ad  audiendum  relictis. 

Congregati  sunt  ergo  ut  rex  jusserat  universi ;  et 
segTegati,  qui  jurarent,  diversis  opinionibus  causam  suam 
confundebant.  Walinkefordenses  enim  nunquam  Henrici 
regis  senioris  tempore  praeter  panem  vel  cervisiam  vendi 
in  Abbendonia  jurabant ;  Oxenefordenses  vero  (nam  et 
ipsi  jurabant)  se  mercatum  inibi  ampliorem  eaeteris,  non 
autem  plenum,  ut  in  navibus  onerariis  et  quadrigis, 
vidisse  dicebant :  qui  vero  de  comitatu  jurabant,  plenum 
omnium  rerum  mercatum  vidisse  se  asserebant ;  de  navi- 
bus tantum  onerariis,  per  aquam  Tamisiae  currentibus, 
dubitabant ;  abbate  tamen  navibus  suis  ad  ea  quae  vellet 
utente.  Comes  autem  Legecestria?,  qui  justitia  et  judex 
aderat,  eoi-um  videns  opiniones  variare,  nihil  super  hoc 
judicare  praesumpsit ;  sed  ad  regem  profectus,  ei  qua) 
gesta  fuerant  indicavit.  Ne  tamen  rex  de  rei  hujus 
veritate  inscius  dubitaret,  idem  comes  plenum  Henrici 
regis  tempore  se  testatus  est  vidisse  mercatum  ;  et,  quod 
ulterius  est,  cum  adhuc  puer  esset,  et  apud  Abbendonam 
nutriretur  regis  Willelmi  tempore.  Rex  autem  tanti 
viri  testimonio  delectatus,  plus  soli  verum  dicenti  creden- 
dum  sentivit,  quam  multis  per  contentionem  a  veritate 
discordantibus. 

Interea  rege  apiul  lladiugam  existente,  convcnerunt 
ad  eum  praefati   calumniatores,  dicentes    se    ejus  villas 


£02  l'LACITA    AXGLO-NORMANNICA. 

niinimc  teucre  posse,  si  mercatum,  ut  cceperat,  in  Abben- 
donia  permaneret.  Quibus,  pro  malse  mentis  pertinacia, 
rex  indignatus,  eosdem  a  se  turbulenter  abegit;  prae- 
cepitque  ut  a  die  illo  mercatum  plenissimum  ibi  esset, 
na  vilnis  tan  turn  exeeptis,  abbate  tantummodo  suis  utente. 
Et  ne  aliquis  dissipare  niteretur  quod  Henrici  regis,  avi 
sui,  tempore  dispositum  constabat,  et  ipse  tune  confir- 
mabat,  calumniantibus  silentium  imponens  perpetuum 
interdixit.  Tamen  antequam  res  haec  ad  hunc  fin  cm 
pcrveniret,  non  modicum  pertulit  abbas  Walkelinus  la- 
borem. 

[It  appears  by  a  subsequent  statement  of  the  chronicler  that  this 
right  of  market  had  been  granted  by  Edward  the  Confessor.  Vol.  2, 
p  278.  The  grant  of  Edward  was  confirmed  by  kings  Henry  I.  and 
Stephen  ;  but  it  would  seem  from  the  writ  above  given  that  some- 
thing more  was  necessary  than  a  right  of  market,  to  wit,  an  actual 
user  of  the  franchise — something  that  could  be  seen.  The  confirma- 
tion by  Henry  I.  has  already  been  given  in  connexion  with  a  previous 
dispute.  Perhaps,  however,  Henry  II.  knew  nothing  of  the  grant  by 
his  grandfather. 

The  following  is  Stephen's  confirmation: — ]J 

Stephanus, rex  Angliae,  episcopo  Saresberise,et  justiciisj 
vicecomitibus,  baronibus,  et  omnibus  ministris  et  fideli- 
bus  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Berchescira,  salutem. 
Sciatis  me  concessisse  Deo  et  ecclesise  Beata?  Maria?  de  Ab- 
bendonia,  et  Ingulfo  abbati,  et  monachis  cum  eo  in  ea  Deo 
servientibus,  mercatum  in  villa  de  Abbendonia  ad  diem 
,2  sicut  prsedicta  ecclesia,  et  abbates,  et  ipse 
Vincent  ins  abbas,  unquam  melius  vel  liberius  tenuerunt, 
e1  die  qua  rex  Henricus  eis  dedit  et  concessit  abbatiam. 
E1  vx>lo  et  firmiter  praecipio,  quod  omnes  homines  iliac 
euntes  el  ibidem  morantes,  et  inde  redeuntes,  plene 
habeanl   meam  firmam  pacem,  ne  super  luce  injuste  dis- 

1  2  Ili.-t.  Dion.  Abingd,  180  (Rec.  Com.).  '-'  An  erasure. 


HENRY    II.  203 

turbentur,  super  X.  librae  forisfacturae.  Testibus  Willelmo 
de  I]>i;ij  Willelmo  de  Caisu.,  et  Ricardo  do  Luci,  et 
Ricardo  de  Camuilla,  apud  Oxeneford. 


[Liberties  of  Abingdon.     1158  ?]' 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  the  church  at  Abingdon  from  toll  and 
other  duties  and  customs.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglias,  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitaniee, 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  justiciis,  vicecomitibus,  ministris, 
et  omnibus  baillivis  suis  totius  Angliaa  et  portuum  maris, 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  monacbi  de  Abbendonia  sint 
quieti  de  omni  theloneo,  de  passagio,  de  pontagio,  de 
lestagio,  et  de  omnibus  consuetudinibus  per  omnes  terras 
meas  et  portus  maris,  de  omnibus  rebus  quas  homines  sui 
poterant  affidare  esse  suas  proprias,  sicut  carta  Henrici 
regis,  avi  mei,  testatur.  Et  prohibeo  ne  quis  eos  vel 
homines  eorum  disturbet,  super  X.  libras  forisfacturae. 
Testibus  Arnulpho  Luxoviensi  episcopo,  Uuillelmo  de 
Kesneto,  Willelmo  de  Hastingis ;  apud  Rothomagum. 


[The  King  v.  Abbot  Walkelin.     1158  ?]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  an  inquisition  as  to  the  number  of  hogs 
which  the  abbot  of  Abingdon,  temp.  Henry  I.,  was  wont  to  feed 
in  the  king's  forest  at  K.  The  finding  is  that  the  abbot  used  to 
feed  there  three  hundred.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitaniie, 
1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  218  (Rec.  Com.).  *  lb.  221,  225. 


204  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

et  comes  Andegavia?,  Rieardo  de  Luceio,  et  forestariis  de 
Windresores,  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  sine  dilatione 
faciatis  recognosci,  per  sacramenta  legalium  hominum 
de  hundredo,  quot  porcos  quietos  de  pasnagio  abbas  de 
Abbendonia  solebat  habere  in  foresta  mea,  qua?  Kinges- 
frid  vocatur,  tempore  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei.  Et  sicut 
recognitum  fuerit,  ita  Uualchelino  abbati  de  Abbendonia, 
et  monaehis  ibidem  Deo  servientibus,  juste  habere  faciatis. 
Teste  Mansero  Biset,  dapif ero ;  apud  Rothomagum. 

Secundum  itaque  praeceptum  regis,  per  legales  homines 
de  hundredo,  sacramento  recognitum  est  abbatem  Abben- 
doniae  in  foresta  Kingesfrid  CCC.  porcos  habere  sine 
pasnagio  antiquitus  solere,  et  regis  Henrici  tempore 
habuisse.  Quod  et  ita  Walkelino  abbati  et  successoribus 
suis  ex  regis  jussu  concessum  et  confirmatum  est. 


[Monks  of  Abingdon.     1158  ?] l 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  tho  monks  of  Abingdon  of  toll,  passage, 
and  customs.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitanise, 
et  comes  Andegavise,  justiciis,  vicecomitibus,  et  omnibus 
ministris  suis  Anglise,  salutem.  Praecipio  quodomnes  res 
monachorum  de  Abbendonia,  quas  homines  sui  affida- 
verint  suas  esse  proprias,  ad  victum  et  vestituiu  eorum, 
sint  quietii'  de  tholoneo,  et  passagio,  et  omni  consuctudine ; 
et  nullus  eos  injuste  inde  disturbet,  super  X.  libras 
forisfacturae.  Teste  Willelmo  filio  Johannis;  apud  Wde- 
stocam. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  224  (Hoc.  Com.). 


HENRY    II.  205 

[Abbot  Walkelin  v.  Knights  and  Men  op  Abingdon. 
1158  ?]' 

[The  queen's  writ  commanding  the  defendants  to  perform  the  cus- 
tomary land  service  due  to  the  plaintiff.] 

Alienor,  regina  Angliae,  ducissa  Normanniae  et  Aqui- 
tanhe,  et  comitissa  Andegaviae,  militibus  et  hominibus 
qui  de  abbatia  de  Abbendona  terras  et  tenuras  tenent, 
salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione  faciatis 
WaJkeKno  abbati  de  Abbendona  plenarie  servitium 
suum,  quod  anteeessores  vestri  fecerunt  autecessoribus 
suis,  tempore  regis  Henrici,  avi  domini  regis;  et  nisi 
feceritis,  justitia  regis  et  mea  faciat  fieri.  Teste  Josceliuo 
de  Baillol;  apud  Wiutoniam.  Per  breve  regis  de 
ultra  mare. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  William  de  Roos.  1158.]2 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  defendant  to  observe  tenure  to  the 
plaintiff  of  a  certain  wood.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitaniae, 

et    comes    Andegaviae,    Willelmo    de    Roos,     salutem. 

Praecipio  tibi,  quod  teneas  abbati  de   Sancto  Augustino 

illam  communem  in  bosco  de  Plumeware-parroc,  quam 

anteeessores  tui   tenuerunt   tempore   regis    Henrici    avi 

mei;  et  nisi  feceris,  vicecomes  jus  faciat  fieri,  ne  inde 

amplius  clamorem  audiam  pro  penuria  pleni  recti.    Teste 

Johanne  Maid.,  per  Willelmum    filium    Martini,    apud 

Westmonasterium . 

See  Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  Emeline  de  Roos,  post,  p.  207. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  225  (Eec.  Com.). 

2  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  408  (Kec.  Com.). 


206  plactta  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  of  Abingdon.     1159.] ' 

[The  king's  writ  granting  permission  to  the  abbot  of  Abingdon  to 
plead  by  attorney.] 

Henricus,  Dei  gratia  rex  AnglisB,  et  dux  Normannise  et 
Aquitaniae,  et  comes  Andegavise,  justiciis  suis,  in  quorum 
bailliis  abbas  de  Abbendonia  habet  terras,  salutem. 
Permitto  quod  abbas  de  Abbendonia  mittat  senescallum 
suum,  vel  aliquem  alium,  in  loco  suo,  ad  assisas  vestras 
et  ad  placita.  Et  ideo  prsecipio  quod  recipiatis  senes- 
callum  suum,  vel  alium,  quern  ad  vos  miserit  loco  suo. 
Teste  Ricardo  Britone,  clerico;  apud  Wdestocam. 


[Monks  or  Abingdon  v.  The  King's  Bailiffs.    1159?]2 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  defendants  to  restore  to  the  plain- 
tiffs a  salt-work.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aqui- 
tanise,  et  comes  Andegaviao,  baillivis  suis  de  WieUj 
salutem.  Prsecipio  vobis  quod  sine  dilatione  et  juste 
reddatis  monackis  mcis  de  Abbendonia  salem  suum,  sicut 
solebant  habere  tempore  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei.  Et  nisi 
Eeceritisj  vicecomes  mens  Wirecestrescira  f'aciat,  nee  inde 
amodo  clamorem  audiam  pro  penuria  recti.  Teste  Jo- 
hanne  Oxoniensij  apud  Wdestocam. 

2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  222  (Rec.  Com.).  2  lb.  223. 


1IKNRY    II.  207 

[Abbot  op  St.  Augustine  y.  Emeline  de  Roos.    11  GO.]1 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  defendant  to  observe  customary 
duties  to  the  plaintiff.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aqui- 
tania?,  et  comes  Andegavia?,  Emelinae  de  Roos  salutem. 
Praecipio  quod  juste  rcspondeas  abbati  Sancti  Augustini 
de  operibus  expensis  de  parte  tua  terrae  de  Plumstaeda, 
sicut  tu  et  antecessores  tui  solebatis  facere  tempore  regis 
Henrici  avi  mei ;  et  nisi  feceris,  viceeomes  Cantiae  faciat 
fieri,  ne  amplius  inde  clamorem  audiam  pro  penuria  recti. 
Teste  Ricardo  archidiacono  Lut.,  apud  Wudestocham. 
See  Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  William  de  Roos,  ante,  p.  205. 


[Sheriff  of  Berkshire  v.  Abbot  Walkelin.    1160.] - 

[The  defendant's  predecessor,  becoming  old  and  feeble,  agreed  with 
the  sheriff  of  Berkshire  to  pay  him  a  hundred  shillings  yearly  for 
attending  to  the  interests  of  the  abbot's  men  in  the  courts  of  the 
county.  The  payment  of  this  money  came  afterwards  to  be  re- 
garded as  customary  dues  even  from  the  defendant.  The  de- 
fendant finally  refusing  to  pay  any  longer,  the  plaintiff  obtains  a 
writ  from  the  king  directing  an  inquisition  as  to  the  state  of 
things  in  the  time  of  Henry  I.  The  answer  being  that  payment 
was  not  made  by  the  abbot  at  that  time,  judgment  is  given  for 
the  defendant.] 

Ingulfus  itaque  abbas,  predecessor  hivjus  Walkelini, 
quia  dierum  et  provectae  erat  setatis,  et  comitatus  sequi 
non  poterat,  centum  solidos  per  annos  singulos  plurimo 
tempore  vicecomiti  de  Berchesira  dare  consuevit,  ea  de 
causa,  ut  abbatiae  homines   lenius   tractaret,  et  cos   in 

1  Hist.  Mod.  St.  Aug.  409  (Eec.  Com.). 
?  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  230  (Rec.  Com.). 


208  I'L.VC'ITA    AXOLO-XOKMAXXICA. 

placitis  et  hundredis,  si  quid  necesse  haberent,  adjuvaret. 
Quod  postquam  processu  temporis  in  consuetudinem  ver- 
sum  est,  centum  quidem  solidos  de  abbatia  vicecomes,  ac 
si  de  redditu  suo  essent,  accipiebat ;  ipsis  vero,  pro  qui- 
bus  dabantur,  prorsus  nihil  proficiebat. 

Cujus  notitia  cum  ad  abbatem  Walkelinum  perveniret, 
pro  tali  ecclesia3  damno  doluit ;  et  post  annum  adventus 
sui  ad  abbatiam  primum,  solidos  dare  distulit.  Requisi- 
tus  autem  quare  non  illos  centum  solidos  persolvisset, 
respondit,  ne  usus  malus  contra  ecclesiam  suam  inoleret, 
cum  utique  priseis  temporibus  ita  minime  fuisse.  Jubente 
vero  rege,  inquisita  est  rei  Veritas,  si  ita  Heuriei  regis, 
avi  scilicet  sui,  tempore  fuisset.  Quod  cum  ita  non 
fuisse  in  comitatu  juramento  manifestum  esset,  prohibuit 
rex  solidos  reddi,  vel  aquoquam  inposterum  exigi.  Sic- 
que  abbas  Walkelinus  centum  ad  se  solidos,  male  ante 
annuatim  perditos,  retraxit,  et  ad  usum  ecclesise  amplius 
profuturum  deputavit. 


[Abbot  Walkelin  v.  Pagan.     About  1160  ?]' 

[The  defendant  often  refusing  and  being  compelled  to  pay  the  dues 
owed  the  plaintiff  for  land  held  of  him,  is  summoned  to  court  with 
his  son  (his  heir),  and  compelled  to  execute  a  covenant  with  the 
abbot  concerning  the  land  ;  the  transaction  being  in  the  abbot's 
chapter,  in  the  presence  of  clerks  and  laymen.J 

Quiuam  Paganus  nomine,  homo  ecclesise  hujus,  in  villa 
Appelford  unam  hidam  tenendam  pro  XX.  solidis,  singulis 
annis  ad  coquinam   monachorum  reddendis,   acceperat. 

1  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abinj  i.  233  (Rec.  Com.)- 


HENRY    II.  209 

Sod  per  tempus  multum,  prcelatis  sui  temporis  sibi  faven- 
tibus,  reddere  differebat.  Quod  animadvcrtens  abbas 
Walkelinus,  frequenter  cum  eodem  Pagano  egit  ut  eccle- 
siae  restitueret  quod  injuste  annuatim  auferebat.  Quod 
quamvis  Paganus  grave  ferret,  ad  hoe  tamen  constautia 
hujus  abbatis  adductus  est/  ut  in  capitulum  fratrum, 
cum  filio  quern  heredem  luibuit,  veniret,  et  pro  ilia  terra, 
et  alia  quam  in  Stoclies  de  ccclesia  tenebat,  cum  abbate  et 
conventu  talem  paetionem  confirmaret.  Pro  damno  vero 
praeteritOj  in  misericordiam  abbatis  se  posuit.  Chiro- 
graphum  autem  taliter  se  habet : 

Seiant  tani  futuri  quam  praesentes,  quod  ego  Walkelinus, 
Dei  gratia  abbas  Abbendoniae,  totusque  conventus  ejus- 
dem  ecclesiae,  concessimus  Pagano  de  Appelford  et  here- 
dibus  suis,  jure  hereditario  tenendam  de  ecclesia  nostra 
in  perpetuum,  tenaturam  suam  de  Appelford,  et  de 
Stoches,  excepta  omni  purprestura,  pro  XX.  solidis 
singulis  annis  coquinario  ecclesiae  nostra?  reddendis,  pro 
omni  servitio,  scilicet  ad  festum  Sancti  Michaelis  X.  so- 
lidis, et  ad  Annunciationem  Sanctae  Maria?  X.  solidis. 
Et  ut  haec  conventio  firmior  et  stabilior  haberetur,  nos 
praefato  Pagano  chirographum  sigillis  nostris  munitum 
contradidimus;  et  ipse  Paganus  et  Robertus  Alius  suus, 
ex  sua  parte,  in  praesentia  totius  capituli,  et  plurimoruni 
clericorum,  et  multorum  laicomm,  juraverunt  se  et  suos 
ha3redes  sine  omni  simulatione  praefatam  conventionem 
esse  servaturos.  His  testibus  subscriptis,  Clemente  de- 
eano,  Radulfo  de  Sancto  Martino,  et  Rogero  filio  suo, 
Martino  presbytero,  et  Helia  clerico,  Adam  vicecomite, 
Nieliolao  filio  Turoldi,  Johanne  de  Tnrbervilla,  Roberto 
de  Seuecurda,  et  Willelmo  filio  suo,  Johanne  de  Tubeneia, 

1  i.e.  by  summons. 


210  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-NORM  ANNICA. 

et  Ricardo  filio  suo/Wuillelmo  do  Leia,  Bomimdo  do  Bod., 
Ranulfo  de  Morles,  Henrico  de  Luuechenora,  et  multis 
alii*. 


[Robert  de  Mandeyill  v.  Reginald  de  Warren. 
1162.] J 

[Writ  of  right  by  the  earl  of  Leicester  concerning  land  at  Digans- 

well.] 

Robertus  comes  Legrecestrise,  Reginaldo  de  Warenna 
salutem.  Praecipio  quod  sine  dilatione  plenum  rectum 
teneas  Roberto  do  Mandovill,  do  terra  quae  fuit  Willolmi 
de  Mandevill  fratris  ejus  de  Diganeswell  cum  pertinentiis 
suis,  quam  clamat  tcnero  de  to.  Et  nisi  feceris,  Robertus 
de  Yaloniis  f'aciat.  Et  nisi  fecerit,  ego  faciam  fieri. 
Teste  Gaufrido  Labbe.     Per  breve  regis  de  ultra  mare. 


[Case  of  Henry  oe  Essex.     11G3.]2 

[Henry  of  Essex  is  appealed  by  Robert  of  M.  of  an  attempt  to  betray 
the  king  in  battle.  Decision  by  duel,  in  which  Eenry  is  van- 
qui  I 

Nec   mora,    insurrexit   in  cum    [Henricum  do    Esexia] 
Robertus  de  Monteforti,  ipsius  consanguineus,  nec  genoro 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  23  (fol.  ed.). 

c.  de  Brake]   5]  (Camden  Soc). 


IIKNRY    II.  211 

nec  viribus  impar,  in  conspectu  principum  terre  dampnans 
el  accusans  cum  de  prodicione  regis.  Asseruil  nempe 
emu  in  expedicione  belli  apud  Waliam  '  in  dimcili  transitu 
de  Coleshelle  vexillum  domini  regis  fraudulent er  abjeeisse, 
el  mortem  ejus  sublimi  voce  proclamasse;  et  in  presidium 
ejus  venientes,  in  fugam  eonvertisse.  In  rei  veritate, 
predictus  Henricus  de  Esexia  inelitum  regem  Henricum 
secundum,  Walensium  fraudibus  interceptum,  diem 
clausisse  credidit  extremurn;  quod  revera  factum  fuisset, 
nisi  llogerus  comes  Clarensis,  claims  genere  et  militari 
clarior  exeercitio,  cum  suis  Clarensibus  maturius  occurris- 
set,  et  domini  regis  vexillum  elevasset,  ad  corroboracionem 
et  animacionem  totius  cxercitus.  Henrico  [de  Esexia] 
quidem  resistente  et2  predicto  Roberto  in  concione,  et 
objecta  penitus  inficiante,  evoluto  brevi  temporis  spaeio, 
ad  corporale  duellum  perventum  est.  Convenerunt 
autem  apud  Radingas  pugnaturi  in  insula  quadam  satis 
abbatie  vicina  ;  convenit  et  gentium  multitudo,  visura 
quern  finem  res  sortiretur.  .  .  .3  Et  jam  totus  desperans 
[Henricus],  et  rationem  in  impetum  convertens,  im- 
pugnantis,  non  defendentis,  assumpsit  officium.  Qui 
dum  fortiter  pereussit,  fortius  percussus  est ;  et  dum 
viriliter  impugnabat,  virilius  inpugnabatur.  Quidmulta? 
victus  oceubuit. 


[John,  the  Marshall,  v.  Thomas  a  Becket.     1164.]4 

[Thomas  a  Becket,  desiring  permission  of  the  king  to  go  to  Rome. 

i    11,-7.  2  The  "  et"  should  be  omitted. 

3  He  sees  the  apparition  of  St.  Edmund,  and  of  a  person  whom  Le 
had  imprisoned  and  tortured  until  death. 
*   1   Etog.  de  lluv   >l-i[  (Rec.  Com  ). 


•l\2  PLA.CITA    &.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

is  told  t  hat  lie  must  first  answer  the  complainl  of  John  the 
marshal!  for  a  failure  to  do  justice  to  him  in  his  (the  archbish  ip's) 
court.  Thomas  denies  the  marshall's  oharge,  and  saysthat  John 
has  e  complaint  in  an  improper  form,  swearing  to  the 

failure  in  his  (Thomas's)  conri  s  thereby 

.  him  (Thomas)  injtistice.   The  king,  however,  refuses  to  en- 
tertain this   suggestion,  and  calls  for  judgment  by  his  barons 
i;t  Thomas  pro  recti  defectu.     He  is  adjudged  in  the  king's 
y,  and  ordered  to  give  security  for  the  payment  of  five  hun- 
dred pounds.] 

In  crastino  colloquii  venit  Thomas  archiepiscopus  ad 
curiam  regis  in  capella  ejus/  et  statim  petiit  ab  eo  licen- 
tiam  transfretandi  ad  Alexandrum  papain,  qui  ea 
tempestate  moram  faciebat  in  Francia,  et  habere  non 
potuit.  Dixit  enim  ei  rex,  "Tu  prius  respondebis  mihi 
de  injuria  quam  fecisti  Johanni  ]\Iarescallo  in  curia  tua." 
Conquestus  enim  erat  rega  idem  Johannes,  quod  calum- 
niatus  esset  in  curia  arehiepiscopi  terrain  quandam  de 
illo  tenendam  jure  haereditario,  et  din  inde  placitasset, 
nullam  inde  potuit  assequijustitiam;  et  quod  ipse  curiam 
arehiepiscopi  saeramento  falsificaverat  secundum  consue- 
tudinem  regni.  Cui  archiepiscopus  respondit :  "Nulla 
justitia  defuit  Johanni  in  curia  mea,  scd  ipse  (nescio 
cujus  consilio,  an  propria  voluntatis  motu)  attulit  in 
curia  mea  quendam  troparium/  et  juravit  super  ilium, 
quod  ipse  pro  defectu  justitise  a  curia  mea  recessit ;  et 
videhatur  justitiariis  curia'  meae  quod  ipse  injuriam  mihi 
fecit,  quod  sic  a  curia  mea  recessit;  cum  statutum  sit  in 
regno  vestro,  'Quod  qui  curiam  alterius  falsificare  volue- 
rit,  oportet  cum  jura  re  super  sacrosancta  evangelia/"3 
Hi  \  ijuidem  non  respiciens  ad  verba  luec,  juravit  quod 
ipse  habere!  de  eo  judicium.  Et  harones  curias 
regis   judicaverunt  eum  esse  in  misericordia  regis;  et 

1  M  ■  I  .    i  imo  1164. 

-  Vereicles  sunjr  tit  mass.     1  Fobs,  20G,  note. 
e  Glanvill,  lib.  12,  c.  7. 


HENIIY    TT.  213 

quamvis  archiepiscopus  nitcretur  judicium  illud  falsincare, 
tamen  prece,  et  consilio  baronum  posuit  se  in  misericordia 
reg-is  de  quingentis  libris,  et  invenit  ei  inde  fidejussores. 
Et  sic  a  curia  recedens  ad  hospitium  suum  ivit,  et  propter 
iram  et  indignation  em  quam  in  animo  conceperat  decidit 
in  gravem  aegritudinem. 

The  following  case  should  be  read  in  connexion  with  the  above, 
the  circumstances  being  continuous. 


[The  King  v.  Thomas  a  Becket.     1164.]1 

[Thomas  is  now  summoned  at  the  suit  of  the  king  to  answer,  the  next 
day,  a  charge  by  the  latter  of  peculation,  before  his  consecration, 
of  the  revenues  of  the  crown.  Thomas  essoins  himself  on  account 
of  sickness,  which  the  king,  on  inquiry,  finds  to  be  real ;  and  the 
case  is  postponed  a  day.  Next  day  a  Becket  proceeds  to  court, 
carrying  a  crucifix.  After  appealing  to  the  pope,  he  alleges  in 
defence  to  the  action  that  he  had  rendered  full  account  concern- 
ing the  revenues  in  question  before  his  consecration  as  arch- 
bishop, and  refuses  to  answer.  The  king  calls  for  judgment 
by  his  barons ;  and  they  going  out,  sentence  the  defendant 
to  imprisonment.  He  prohibits  execution  of  the  sentence,  and 
escapes.] 

Quod  cum  regi  constaret,  ut  eum  magis  affligeret,  statim 
misit  ad  eum,  et  summonuit  eum  per  bonos  summonito- 
res,  quod  in  crastino  venisset,  paratus  reddere  illi  rationem 
villicationis  sua?,  quam  habuit  in  regno  suo  ante  conse- 
crationem  suam.  Archiepiscopus  autenij  sciens  quod 
grave  ei  immineret  exterminium  si  in  curia  venire  pro- 
perasset,  modis  omnibus  qusesivit  dilationem  :  turn  quia 
tempus  summonitionis  brevissimum  erat,  turn  quia  ipse 
graviter  infirmabatur.  C unique  rex  vidisset  quod  archi- 
episcopus   ad    diem    ilium   non    veniret,  misit    ad    eum 

1  1  Hog.  de  Hov.  225  (Reo.  Com). 


:211  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNKA. 

Etobertum  comitem  Leicestriae,  et  Reginaldum  comitem 
Cornubise  ad  videndum  segritudinem  illius.  Qui  cum 
venissent,  invenerunt  ilium  in  lecto  jacentem  infirmum, 
et  ad  petitionem  illius  dederant  ei  respectum  veniendi 
ad  curiam  usque  mane.  Eodem  die  dictum  erat  ei  et 
nunciatum  a  familiaribus  regis,  quod  si  ipse  ad  curiam 
regis  venisset,  vel  interficeretur,  vel  in  carcerem  mitte- 
retur.     .     .     . 

[The  archbishop  celebrates  mass,  ami  then  goes  to  court,  bearing 
his  crucifix  before  him.  The  bishops  try  in  vain  to  induce  him  to 
lay  it  down.  He  meditates  escape,  saying  that  he  had  appealed  to 
the  pope,  and  calls  upon  the  bishops  to  notice  it;  but  he  does  not 
leave.     Tbe  case  now  proceeds  as  follows  : — ] 

Tunc  omnes  episcopi  laudaverunt  ei,  ut  ipse  satisfaciens 
voluntati  regis,  redderet  ei  archiepiscopatum  suum  in 
misericordia  illius,  sed  areliiepiscopus  noluit  eis  hide 
credere.  Tunc  mandavit  ei  rex  per  milites  suos,  ut  sine 
dilatione  veniret,  et  redderet  ei  plenariam  computationem 
de  omnibus  receptis,  qua;  receperat  de  redditibus  regnij 
quamdiu  cancellarius  ejus  fuit ;  et  nominatim  de  triginta 
millibus  librarum  argenti.  Quibus  areliiepiscopus  respon- 
dit :  "  Dominus  mens  rex  scit,  quod  ego  ssepius  ei  reddidi 
computationem  de  omnibus  bis  qua?  ipse  modo  a  me  petit, 
antequam  electus  fuissem  ad  archiepiscopatum  Cantuarien- 
sem.  Et  in  electione  mea  Henricus  filius  ejus,  cui  regnum 
adjuratum  fuit,  et  omnes  barones  scaccarii,  et  Ricardusde 
Luci  justitiarius  Angliae,  clamaverunt  me  quietum,  Deo  et 
sanctae  ecclesiae,  de  omnibus  receptis  et  computationibus, 
el  ab  omni  sseculari  exactione  ex  parte domini  regis;  etsic 
liber  et  absolutus  electus  fui  ad  hujus  officii  administra- 
tionem  ;  et  ideo  amplius  nolo  inde  placitarc"  Quod  cum 
cegi  constaret,  dixit  baronibus  suis,  "Cite  facite  mini 
judicium  de   illo,  qui    homo   incus  ligius  est,  et  stare  juri 


HENRY    II.  215 

in  curia  mea  recusat."    Et  exeuntes  judicaverunt  eum 
eapi  dignum  e\  in  carcerem  mitti. 

Tune  misit  rex  Reginaldum  comitem  Cornubise  et 
Robertum  comitem  Leicestrite  ad  indicandum  ill i  judicium 
de  illo  factum.  Qui  dixerunt  ei,  "Audi  judicium  tuum." 
Quibus  arcbiepiscopus  respondit :  "  Prohibeo  vobis  ex 
parte  Omnipotentis  Dei,  et  sub  anathemate,  ne  faciatis 
hodie  de  me  judicium,  qui  appcllavi  ad  present iam  domini 
papse."  Dum  autem  prtedicti  comites  redirent  ad  regem 
cum  responso  illo,  archiepiscopus  exivit  a  thalamo,  et 
progrediens  per  medium  illorum  venit  ad  palefridum 
simm,  et  ascendit,  et  exivit  ab  aula,  omnibus  clamautibus 
post  eum,  et  dicentibus,  "  Quo  progrederis,  proditor ; 
expecta  et  audi  judicium  tuum/'1 


[Bishop  Godfrey.     1164.]2 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  all  the  tenants  of  the  abbey  of  Abing- 
don to  do  fealty  and  service  to  bishop  Godfrey,  to  whom  the  king 
has  committed  the  care  of  the  abbey.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitanise, 

et  comes  Andegavise,  omnibus,  tarn  clericis  quam  laicis, 

tenentibus  de  abbatia  Abbendonensi,  salutem.     Prsecipio 

quod    intendatis    Godefrido    episcopo,    cui    commendavi 

abbatiam  de  Abbendona,  tan  quam  abbati,   de  omnibus 

quae  pertinent  ad  ipsam  abbatiam,  et  faciatis  ei  fidelitatem 

et  servitia,  ita  plenarie  et  integre  sicut  facere  solebatis 

prsedecessoribus  suis,  et  nisi  feceritis,  vicecomites  in  quorum 

bailliis  estis,  vos  justicient,  donee  faciatis.     Teste  Johanne 

decano  Seresberiensi ;  apud  Wdestocam. 

1  The  archbishop  then  makes  his  escape  from  the  hall. 
-  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  234  (Rec.  Com.). 


216  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[The  King  v.  His  Sheriffs.     11 70.]' 

[The  king  deposes  nearly  all  of  his  sheriffs  and  bailiffs  for  misconduct 
in  office,  and  they  all  give  pledges  to  answer  for  their  wrongful 
acts  and  exactions.  He  then  directs  an  inquisition  on  oath  by 
all  of  his  earls,  barons,  knights,  frank-tenants,  and  villains  in 
each  county  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  exactions  of  his 
officers.] 

Peracta  igitur  sollenitate  Paschali,  perrexit  inde  [rex] 
Lundonias,  et  ibi  magnum  celebravit  concilium  de  coro- 
nal ione  Henrici,  filii  sui  majoris,  et  de  statutis  regni  sui: 
et  ibidem  deposuit  fere  omnes  vicecomites  Angliae  et 
baillivos  eorum,  pro  eo  quod  male  tractaverant  homines 
regni  sui.  Et  mrasquisque  vicecomitum  et  baillivi  eorum 
plegios  invenerunt  de  seipsis,  quod  ad  rectum  starent  et 
adresciandum  domino  regi  et  hominibus  regni,  quod  eis 
adresciare  deberent  de  prisis  suis ;  et  postea  fecit  rex 
omnes  homines  regni  sui,  scilicet  comites,  barones,  milites, 
francos-tenentes,  et  etiam  villicanos,  per  singulos  vice- 
comitatus  jurare,  tactis  sacrosanctis  Evangeliis,  quod 
veram  dieerent,  scilicet  quod  et  quantum  vicecomites  et 
baillivi  eorum  de  eis  ceperint,  et  quod  cum  judicio  et 
quod  sine  judicio,  et  pro  quali  forisfaetura. 

The  chronicler  however  adds  :  "  Sed  magnum  damnum  provenit  inde 
genti  Anglise,  quia  post  factam  inquisitionem  rex  reposuit  quosdam 
vicecomitum  illorum  iterum  in  locis  suis,  atque  ipsi  postea  multo 
crudeliores  extiterunt  quam  antea  f'ncrunt." 


[Thomas  a  Becket.     1170.]- 

[Thomas  a  Becket  having  become   reconciled  with  the  king,  the  king 
grants    his  writ   directing   protection  of  him  and  his   men,  and 

1  2  Florence  of  Worcester,  138  (Eng.  Hist.  Soc.). 

2  1  Twysdcn's  Scriptores,  1413  (Gervasiue  of  Dover). 


HENRY    II.  217 

ordering  tho  restoration  to  him  and  them  of  their  property,  and 
an  inquisition  of  the  older  knights  concerning  tho  honour  of  S., 
claimed  by  the  archbishop.] 

Henricus  rex  Angliae  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitaniae, 
et  comes  Andegavia?,  karissimo  filio  salutem.  Sciatis 
quod  Thomas  Cantuariensis  pacem  mecum  fecit  ad  vo- 
luntatem  meam,  et  ideo  prsecipio  quod  ipse  et  sui  pacem 
habeant,  et  faciatis  habere  ei  et  suis  qui  pro  eo  exierunt 
ab  Anglia,  res  suas  bene  et  in  pace  et  honorifice  sicut 
habuerunt  tribus  mensibus  antequam  ipse  archiepiscopus 
recessisset  ab  Anglia.  Et  faciatis  venire  coram  vobis 
de  antiquioribus  et  legalioribus  militibus  de  honore  de 
Saltwde,  et  eorum  sacramento  faciatis  recognosci  quid  ibi 
habeatur  de  feudo  archiepiscopo  Cantuarise.  Et  quod 
recognitum  fuerit  de  feudo  ejus  esse  ipsi  archiepiscopo 
habere  faciatis.  Teste  Rotrodo  Rothomagensi  archi- 
episcopo apud  Chinum. 


[William  Turpin  v.  Abbot  Roger.     1175.]1 

[The  plaintiff  obtains  a  writ  of  right  as  to  certain  land,  and  the  cause 
coming  on  for  trial  in  the  King's  Court,  a  fine  and  concord  are 
made,  the  king  confirming  the  same  by  his  charter ;  the  defendant 
granting  and  warranting  to  the  plaintiff  certain  land  at  Fencot, 
at  an  annual  rent,  and  the  plaintiff  quit-claiming  (with  limited 
warranty)  the  land  in  litigation  to  the  defendant,  with  right  of 
restoration  to  the  land  at  Fencot  if  the  plaintiff's  warranty  fail.] 

Tempore  etiam  istius  abbatis  Rogeri  orta  est  controversia 
inter  Willelmum  Turpinum,  camerarium  regis,  et  domum 

i  2  Hist.  Mom  Abingd.  235  (Rec.  Com.). 


218  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOE.MANNICA. 

Abbendonise  super  una  hida  in  Dumeltune,  quam  clamabat 
per  breve  de  recto  tenere  de  domo  Abbendonise.  Quae 
controversia  cum  inter  memoratum  Willelmum  Turpinum 
el  domum  Abbendonise  diu  esset  ventilata,  tandem  in 
curia  regis  hoc  Qne  e1  tenore  est  sopitaj  sicul  attestatur 
carta'  regis  Henrici  Secundi  subsequens  inscriptio  : 

Henricus,  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglise,  et  dux  Normannise 
it  Aquitanise,  et  comes  Andegavise,  archiepiscopis,  epis- 
copisj  abbatibus,  comitibus,  baronibus,  justiciis,  vice- 
comitibus,  ministrisj  et  omnibus  fidelibus  suis,  Francis  et 
Anglis,  totius  Anglise,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse, 
et  prsesenti  carta  confirmasse, Willelmo  Turpino,  came- 
rario  meo,  et  heredibus  suis,  terrain  de  Fencota,  quam 
Rogerus  abbas  Abbendonise,  communi  assensu  totius 
conventus  ipsius  abbatise,  coram  me  concessit  ei  tenendam, 
pro  duobus  solidis  annuatim  reddendis  camerario  abbatis, 
ad  I'cstum  Sancti  Michaelis,  pro  omni  servitio  ad  eccle- 
siam  Abbendonise  pertinente ;  ita  quod  abbas  terram 
illam  ei  warrantizabit ;  et  praefatus  Willelmus  Turpin 
totam  ten-am  quam  clamabat  in  Dumbeltuna  quietam 
clamavit  ecclesise  de  Abbendonia,  et  warrantizabit  illam  de 
omni  parentela  sua,  et  contra  totam  progeniem  Helise, 
per  quern  ipse  clamabat;  et  si  earn  warrantizare  non 
poterit  (ipse  videlicet  vel  sui)  ecclesia  de  Abbendonia 
recipiet  terrain  suamde  Fenchote  liberam  et  quietam  de 
Willelmo  et  suis,  sicut  chirographum  inde  inter  eos 
fact  urn,  et  carta  abbatis  et  conventus,  testatur.  Quare 
volo  et  firmiter  prsecipio  quod  idem  Willelmus  Turpine 
et  heredes  sui  prsedictam  terram  de  Fenchota  habeant  et 
teneant  in  feudo  el  hereditate,  de  ecclesia  de  Abbendonia, 
,•1  de  abbate  el  successoribus  suis,  per  prsedietum  ser- 
vitium,bene  et  in  pace,  libere  et  quiete,  integre  et  plenarie, 
ei  bonorifice,  in  bosco  et  piano,  in  pratis  et  pasturis,  in 


11  KN'KY     II.  219 

aquis  et  piscariis,  in  viis  et  semitis,  et  iu  omnibus  aliis 
locis  et  aliis  rebus  ad  earn  pertinentibus,  et  cum  omnibus 
libertatibus  et  liberis  consuetudinibus  suis,  sicut  coram 
me  concessum  fuit  et  conventionatum.  Testibus  G. 
electo,  id  est,  Northwicensi,  Adam  de  Sancto  Asaph, 
episcopis,  Ricardo  de  Luci,  Willelmo  filio  Aid.,  dapiferi, 
Radulfo  filio  St.,  camerarii;  apud  Wintoniam. 


[Abbot  Hamlin  v.  A  certain  Person.   Ecclesiastical. 
1175.]1 

[Record  of  judgment  obtained  by  the  plaintiff  as  to  a  certain  church 
upon  an  inquisition  and  charters,  in  a  chapter  held  by  commission 
of  the  pope  before  bishop  David  of  M.] 

David,  Dei  gratia  Menevensis  episcopus,  omnibus  tarn 
clericis  quam  laicis  per  dyoecesim  suam  constitutis,  salu- 
tem  et  benedictionem.  Causam  venerabilium  fratrum 
nostrorum  abbatis  et  monachorum  Gloucestriae  super 
ecclesia  Sancti  Paterni,  quam  quidam  tempore  liostilita- 
tis  ipsis  abstulerunt,  et  aliquantis  temporibus  injuste 
detinuerunt  occupatam,  a  domino  et  patre  Summo  Pon- 
tifice  Alexandre  nobis  delegatam  suscepimus  cognoscen- 
dam,et  fine  debito,appellationenon  admissa,terminandam. 
Diligenter  itaque  veritate  inquisita  et  cognita,  tarn  ex 
autenticis  scriptis  eorum  nobis  per  fratres  suos  Jobannem 
et  Philippum  transmissis,  quam  ex  unanimi  attestatione 
totius  capituli  nostri,  quoniam  eadem  ecclesia  ad  monas- 
terium  jam  dictorum  fratrum  de  jure  pertineret,  eandem 

1  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  76  (Rec.  Com.). 


220  VLACITA   ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  suis  praefato  monasterio  Glou- 
cestria',  eapitulo  nostro  apud  Sanctum  David  convocato, 
adjudicavimus.  Nos  ergo  banc  adjudicationem  memo- 
ratis  fratribus  factam  confirmantes  sigilli  nostri  ini- 
pressione  communimus,  ipsosque  convocato  eapitulo  nos- 
tro apud  Sanctum  David  in  prsescriptam  ecclesiam  in- 
stituimus.  Ha>c  autem  facta  sunt  anno  ab  Incarnatione 
Domini  millesimo  centesimo  septuagesimo  quinto.  Hiis 
testibus  Pontio  archidiaeono.1 


[Abbot  Roger.     1175.]2 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  return  of  fugitives.] 

HenbicuSj  Dei  gratia  rex  Anglian  et  dux  Normanniae,  et 
Aquitaniae,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  justices,  vicecomitibus 
e1  omnibus  baillivis  suis  Anglise,  salutem.  Prsecipio 
vobis  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione  faciatis  habere  Rogero 
abbati  de  Abbendonia  omnes  nativos  et  fugativos  suos 
cum  catallis  suis,  ubicumque  inventi  fuerint  in  bailliis 
vestris,  nisi  sint  in  dominio  meo,  qui  fugerunt  de  terra 
sua  postmortem  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei;  et  prohibeo  ne 
quis  cos  injuste  detineat,  super  forisfacturam  meam. 
Teste  Humfrido  de  Buuu  j  apud  Oxeneford. 


1   Lrfi  incomplete. 

-  2  Hist.  Mon.  Abingd.  235  (Iiec.  Com). 


iienby  ii.  221 

[Abbot  Odo.     About  1175.] ' 

[Abbot  Odo  of  Battel  seeks  and  obtains  from  the  King's  Court 
renewal  of  :i  decayed  charter;  the  court  being  composed  of  the 
king  and  his  great  men.] 

I'xam   ex  enrtis    regis   Willelmi,   fundatoris  monasterii 

de    Bello,    contigit    tunc    temporis    in    ipso  monasterio 

vet  ust ate  dissolvi.     Quam  cum  abbas  regi  porrexisset, 

"  Hsec/'  inquit  rex,  "  renovatione  indigcret."     Abbate 

ad  hoc  respondente,  "  Et  nos  lit  earn  si  placet  auctoritate 

regia  renovando  confirmetis  supplicaraus  •"  "  Non  hoc/' 

inquit  rex,  "nisi  ex  judicio  curia?  mese  facturus  sum." 

Divertit  ad  hasc  abbas  a  rege,  et  virum  illustrem  Ricar- 

dum  de  Luci  adiens,  regis  sibi  exposuit  responsum.     Ad 

quod  vir  illustris  Ricardus  respondens,  "  Si  nostrum," 

inquit,   te  super    hoc  expectatur  judicium,  ad    efFectum 

petitionis  tuae  unanimem  invenies  totius  curiae  consen- 

sum,"     Loco  et  tempore  ex  consilio  viri  illustris  Ricardi 

expectato,  cum  post   modicum  rex  in   medio   procerum 

suorum  resideret,  abbas  procedens  cartam  suam  vetustate 

dissipatam  in  conspectu  omnium  proposuit,  et  ut  regia 

auctoritate    renovaretur    expetiit.      Rege    super   hoc,  si 

faciendum  esset  necne,  judicium   procerum    requirente, 

"  Decet,"  inquit  Ricardus  de  Luci,  "  decet  vos  si  placet 

domine  cartam  ecclesiae  de  Bello  renovare,  cujus  etiam 

si  omnes  cartas  perissent,   nos    omnes    cartas   ejus   esse 

debemus,  qui  de  conquisitione  apud  Bellum  facta  fcodati 

sumus.    Et  quoniam  judicium  nostrum  utrum  faciendum 

sit  necne  exigitis,  ut  cartam  praedictam  auctoritate  ves- 

tra  confirmando  renovetis  adjudicamus."     Rex  ad  haec, 

vocato   Waltero    de    Constanciis,    tunc   cancellario    suo, 

postmodum  Lincolniensi  episcopo,  et  post  modicum  Ro- 

thomagensi  archiepiscopo,  jussit  cartam  novam  nominis 

et  sigilli  regii  secundum  formam  cartas  veteris  fieri,  pras- 

1  Hist.  Mon.  de  Bello,  164  (Ang.  Chris.  Soc). 


:12:1  PLACH  \    ANGLO-NORM  ANNICA . 

cipiens  cartae  nova'  imponi  se  confirmationeni  illam  fecisse 
pro  amore  Dei  et  pelitionc  Odonis  abbatis,  nomen  et 
meritum  ejusdem  abbatis  volens  esse  in  recordatione. 
Et  quoniam  in  cartis  et  munimentis,  a  diversis  personis, 
diverso  tempore  super  eodem  negotio  datis,  solet  in  pos- 
terioribus  priorum  mentio  fieri,  ita  ut  quod  posterius  est 
videatur  praecedentium  exigerc  testimonium  hujusmodi 
verbis,  "sicut  carta  ilia  vel  illius  N.  testatur,"  jussit  rex 
ne  clausula  ilia  insereretur,  sed  aliam  antea  inusitatam 
ipse  dictavit,  et  super  his  quae  viderat  in  persona  propria 
testimonium  perhibens,  cartae  praecepit  imponi,  hoc  modo: 
"  Quoniam  inspexi  cartam  Willelmi  proavi  mei,  in  qua 
praescriptae  libertate?  et  quietantiae,  et  liberae  consuetu- 
dines  ab  eo  praefatae  ecclesiae  concessae  continebantur."  1 
Nee  dedignatus  est  inclitus  princeps  super  pracdicta  clau- 
sula reddere  rationem.  "  Si,"  inquit,  "  clausula  quae 
suppressa  est  inserta  fuisset,  carta  posterior  sine  priore 
modicum  conferret.  Nunc  vero  nulla  in  posteriori  de 
praecedentibus  originalibus  facta  mentione,  haec  carta 
sola  sufficeret,  etiam  si  omnes  aliae  cartae  de  Bello  depe- 
rissent.'"  His  a  rege  dictis,  exegit  abbas  a  cancellario 
et  obtinuit,  ut  sibi  tres  cartas  unam  eandamqnc  formam 
secundum  praeceptum  regis  continentes  scribi,  regisque 
sigillum  singulis  faceret  apponi.  Commissae  sibi  eccle- 
siae diligenter  in  hoc  et  prudentcr  prospexit,  ut  quoniam 
possessions  monasterii  sunt  a  monasterio  plurimum  re- 
motae,  siquando  quavis  ex  causa  quamlibet  trium  carta- 
rum  contigeret,  vel  etiam  duas  extra  monasterium  alias 
deferrij  una  saltern  earum  ad  manum  semper  haberetur 
in  monasterio. 

1  This,  it  will  be  observed,  is  the  form  of  the  "inspeximus"  charters 

very  frequently  used   in    la  [f  this  was,  indeed,  the  first 

I'  il,.'  form,  ii  (')i'  the  reason  given  I'm-  it)  i*  a  further  indication 

of  llonrv'  liui    t  In' chronicler's  statoracnt  needs  verifica- 

tion. 


HENRY    II.  -Z-1S 

[Jurnet  v.  Church  of  St.  Edmund.     1176.]' 

[The  plaintiff  recovers  judgment  against  the  church  of  St.  Edmund 
I  i  money  loaned  to  the  cellarer  on  bond,  sealed  with  the  seal  of 
the  convent,  though  the  loan  was  unauthorized  by  the  defendant.  J 

In  diebus  illis  celerarius,  sicut  ceteri  officiates,  apprun- 
tavit  denarios  a  Jurneto  judeo,  inconsulto  conventu, 
super  cartam  supradicto  sigillo  sig-natam.  Cum  autem 
excrevit  debitum  usque  ad  sexaginta  libras,  summonitus 
est  conventus  ad  solvendum  debitum  celerarii.  De- 
positus  est  celerarius;  licet  allegaret  gravamen  suum, 
dicens  quod  susceperat  tribus  annis  hospites  omnes  in 
domo  hospitum  ad  preceptum  abbatis,  sive  abbas  fuerit 
presens  sive  absens,  quos  debeat  suscipere  abbas  secundum 
consuetudinem  abbatie. 

The  chronicler  says  on  p.  28 :  "  Quodam  die2jussit  [abbas]  in  capi- 
tulo,  ut  quicumque  sigillum  proprium  haberet,  ei  redderet ;  et  ita  fac- 
tum est,  et  inventa  sunt  triginta  tria  sigilla.  Racionem  hujus  pre- 
cepti  ipse  ostendit,  prohibens  ne  aliquis  officialis  appruntaret  aliquod 
debitum  ultra  XX.  solidos,  sine  assensu  prion's  et  conventus,  sicut 
solebat  fieri.  Priori  vero  et  sacriste  reddidit  sigilla  sua,  et  cetera 
retinuit.'' 


[Archbishop  Roger  of  York  v.  Bishop  Geoffrey  of 
Ely.     1176.]3 

[The  plaintiff  complains  to  the  king,  before  the  bishops  and  great 
men  of  tbe  kingdom,  in  a  council  at  Winchester,  that  the  de- 
fendant committed  an  assault  and  battery  upon  him  at  a  council 
lately  held  at  London.  But  the  defendant  purges  himself  before 
all  in  legal  form  of  the  charge.] 

Postea  tamen  eodem  anno  coneilio  pro  pace  inter  ipsos 

«  Chron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  4  (Camden  Soc).  -  1182. 

3  1  Twysden's  Scriptores,  1109  (John  of  Brompton). 


224  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

archiepiscopos  et  episcopum  Eliensem  facienda  apud 
Wintoniam  per  regem  tunc  ibidem  existentem  con- 
gregate-, dictus  Rogerus  Eboracensie  archiepiscopus 
coram  episcopis  et  regni  magnatibus  domino  regi  con- 
questus  est,  quod  Galfridus  Eliensis  episcopus  in  concilio 
cardinalis,  ut  dictum  est/  manus  injecerat  in  cum 
tevnere  violentas.  Quod  Eliensis  episcopus  expresse 
negans,  in  conspectu  regis  et  episcoporum  circum  astan- 
cium  sacrosanctis  evangeliis  coram  eo  positis,  de  hoc  in 
verbo  veritatis  legitime  se  purgavit,  quam  quidem 
purgationem  legaliter  fore  factam  ipse  Cantuariensis 
archiepiscopus  in  verbo  veritatis  attestus  est.  Et  sic  ipsi 
archiepiscopus  Eboracensis  et  episcopus  Eliensis  iram 
hinc  iude  remittentes  amici  sunt. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  Men  of  Thanet.     1176.]2 

[The  men  of  Thanet  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  superior  jurisdiction 
of  the  church  of  St.  Augustine  of  Canterbury,  declining  to  obey 
summons  to  court  there,  and  asserting  that  they  can  be  impleaded 
only  in  their  own  hallmot  at  Thanet.  The  abbot  elect  of  St. 
Augustine  now  obtains  the  king's  writ  directing  a  trial  of  the 
controversy  in  the  County  Court  at  Canterbury,  and  there  obtains 
judgment.] 

Anno  Domini  millessimo  CLXXVI.  anno  autem  regis 
Henrici  secundi  XXII.  mense  Decembri  in  vigilia  Sancti 
Thomse  apostoli  llogerus  clectus  beati  Augustini   Can- 

i  Referring  to  the  well-known  scene  of  violence  which  followed 
upon  tho  contention  of  the  archbishops  as  to  priority  of  place  at  a 
conncil  of  tin'  cardinal  in  London,  1170. 

1  2  Twysden'a  Scriptores,  1827  (Tliorno's  Chron.). 


HENRY    II.  225 

tuariae  ct  homines  de  Thaneto  qui  pertinent  ad  tene- 
mentum  beati  Augustini  tali  modo  pacificati  sunt. 
Controversia  quippe  inter  monachos  Sancti  Augustini 
et  homines  dc  Thaneto  diutius  agitata  est,  ipsis  Thane- 
"tensibus  assercntibus  se  ad  capitalem  euriam  beati 
Augustini  Cantuariaa  placitandi  causa  vel  judicium  sus- 
tineudi  nullo  modo  debere  accedere,  set  in  halimoto  suo 
in  Thaneto  omnia  judicia  sua  exerceri,  unde  idem  electus 
potestatem  regiam  interpellans,  optinuit,  quod  ex  regio 
mandato  eadem  controversia  in  comitatu  Cancise  debitum 
finem  fortiretur.  Die  itaque  constituto  Cantuaria?  in 
eodem  comitatu  astantibus  utrisque  partibus  in  conspectu 
Johanuis  de  Kardyf  supplentis  vices  Roberti  filii  Ber- 
nardi  vicecomitis,  iidem  Thanetenses  coacti  ratione 
sequitatis  recognoverunt,  se  debere  ad  curiam  Sancti 
Augustini  Cantuarise  venire  quociens  summoniti  fuerint, 
et  ibidem  si  de  aliqua  re  erga  eos  querelam  abbas 
habuerit,  placitum  inire  et  judicio  curiae  stare,  sicut 
homines  alterius  villae.  Et  recognoverunt  quod  illud 
idem  dirationatum  fuerit  contra  se  tempore  Clarembaldi 
quondam  electi  Sancti  Augustini,  de  rebellione  vero  sua 
guagium  dederunt  electo  in  maneiam  ipsius,  et  in  manu 
Radulphi  senioris  Sancti  Augustini  vidente  toto  comi- 
tatu et  testificante. 

[It  was  necessary  to  seek  the  king's  aid  again  in  1180;  in  which 
year  the  following  writ  was  granted  : — ]  ' 

Henricus,  Dei  gratia,  rex  Anglise  et  dux  Normanniae 
et  Aquitaniae  et  comes  Andcgaviae,  hominibus  abbatis 
Sancti  Augustini  de  Tanet  salutem.  Praecipio  vobis, 
quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione  faciatis  praefato  abbati 
domino  vestro  omnia  scrvitia,  et  consuetudines,  et  jura 

1  1  Hist.  Mon.  St.  Aug.  149  (Hoc.  Cotn.). 


226  PLACITA    AXCI.O-XORMAXXICA. 

qua  ei  facere  debetis  de  feodis  vestris,  et  quae  proede- 
cessoribus  suis  facere  solebatis ;  et  nisi  feceritis,  vicecomes 
de  Kent  faciat  fieri;  ne  inde  amplius  clamorem  audiam 
pro  defectu  recti.  Teste  llanulpho  de  Glanvilla,  apud 
Wintoniam. 

[The  controversy  concerning  jurisdiction  was  renewed  in  the  next 
reign,  as  the  following,  from  the  same  chronicle  of  Thorne  (2  Twys- 
den,  p.  1842),  shows  : — ] 

Anno  Domini  MCXCVIII.  anno  scilicet  regis  Ricardi 
decimo,  coram  Huberto  Cantuariensi  archiepiscopo, 
Ricardo  episcopo  Londoniensi,  Galfrido  filio  Petri  et 
sociis  eorum  tunc  temporis  justiciatiis  domini  regis  apud 
Westmonasterium,  questi  sunt  homines  de  Thaneto,  quod 
abbas  de  Sancto  Augustino  Cantuarise  exigebat  ab  eis 
servicia  et  consuetudines  quae  facere  non  deberent ;  et 
maxime  quod  faciebat  eos  sequi  curiam  suam  de  Sancto 
Augustino  et  ibi  placitare  et  recto  stare,  quod  ipsi  dice- 
bant  se  non  debere  facere  ibi,  set  in  Thanet  apud 
Menstre.  Vcnerunt  ergo  et  posuerunt  loco  suo  ad 
lucrandum  vel  perdendum  XXX.  homines  in  ipsa  querela 
socios  versus  ipsum  abbatem.  Die  autem  constitute 
utrique  parti,  intra  pascha  venerunt  ipsi  XXX.  pro  aliis 
hominibus  de  Thanet  qui  ad  abbatem  non  tenebant  et 
ret  vaxerunt  se,  et  judicati  sunt  in  misericordia  pro  falso 
elamore,  et  Samuel  et  Norman  remanent  in  prisona  quia 
tenuerunt  se  cum  armis  in  ecclesia. 


[Abbot  Matthew  v.  Abbot  Ranulp.     117G.]1 

[Subjection  of  the  abbeys  al   B.  and  D.  to  the  defendanl   adjudged  in 
the  chapter  of  Savigny,  before  abboi  -,  prior,  and  sab-prior.] 

I'Yum:  Gi  [llelmus  Savignei  dictus  abbas,  omnibus  ab- 

1   Ecclesiastical  Doc   52  (Camden  Soc). 


HENRI    II.  227 

batibus  ad  Savigneum  pertinentibus,  salutem.  Notum 
vobis  facimus  quod  postquam  audivimus  abbatem  Ma- 
theum  de  Basinguec  querimoniain  fecisse  in  capitulo 
Cisterciensi  do  abbate  Rannulfo  de  Billewas,  quod  abba- 
tias  de  Basinguec  et  de  Dublina  quas  per  Savigneium 
babebat,  contra  formam  ordinis  tenet,  utrisque  mandavi- 
mus  propter  bouum  pacis  ut  ante  tempus  capituli  sequen- 
tis  Savignei  se  prsesentarenti  Et  ipsi  sic  fecerunt. 
Auditis  itaque  in  capitulo  Savignei  querelis  et  grava- 
minibus  abbatis  Mathei  de  Basinguec  et  responsis  abba- 
tis  Rannulfi.  de  Billewas  et  cartis  quas  in  eodem  capitulo 
al)  abbate  R.  de  Curci  et  conventu  suo  de  pra3dictis 
abbatiis  transactis  plusquam  XX.  annis  acceperat,  dignum 
duximus  cum  abbatibus  qui  aderant  et  cum  senioribus 
nostris  secretins  inde  tractare.  Tunc  rogavimus  eos  uti 
se  ex  toto  consilio  nostro  et  provideucie  committerent,  et 
consenserunt.  Nos  autem,  illis  remotis,  considerantes 
discrecionem  et  prudentiam  antecessorum  nostrorum  qui 
prsefatas  abbatias  abbati  R.  et  conventui  de  Billewas 
tradiderunt  et  cartis  confirmaverunt,  propter  necessarias 
causas  et  utiles  dignum  judicavimus  quicquid  siq^er  hsec 
fecerunt  ratum  et  firmum  haberi  imperpetuum.  Pace 
igitur  inter  eos  reformata  in  communi  cajiitulo  nostro 
pni'sentibus  abbatibus  Galtero  de  Nebt  et  Moyse  de 
Veteri  Villa  commendavimus  abbati  Ranulfo  de  Billewas 
omnem  curam  et  ordiiiacionem  predictarum  domorum 
sicut  liliarum  suarum  sicut  antecessors  nostri  prius 
commeudaverant  et  ejus  carte  testantur.  Iujunximus 
quoque  abbati  Matheo  de  Basinguec  et  abbati  A.  de 
Dublina  ut  ipsi  et  domus  sua  ex  toto  intendant  et 
obediant  abbati  et  domui  de  Buldewas  sicut  filii  patri 
et  sicut  filie  matri.  Facta  sunt  baec  in  capitulo  Savignei 
ab[s]que    ulla    contradictione.      Hiis    testibus    Roberto 

Q  2 


Z2>H  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOIU1A.NNICA. 

priore  et  suppriovel  l  Petro  ct  Stephano  de  Furnesia, 
Josleno  qui  ibi  fuerat  abbas,  Ramaldo  de  Cham  et  toto 
capitulo. 

[The  following  confirmation  of  the  above  is  given  : — ] 

Frater  A.  dictus  abbas  Cistercii  omnibus  abbatibus  ad 
Cistercium  pertinentibus  salutem.  Sciatis  nos  prsesenti 
carta  nostra  confirmasse  abbati  et  conventui  de  Billewas 
abbatias  de  Basinguee  et  de  Duvelina  sicut  primum 
dilectus  Alius  noster  Ricardus  de  Curei  cum  esset  abbas 
Savigneii  et  postea  venerabilis  Crater  noster  Guillelmus 
de  Tolosa  factus  abbas  ejusdem  loci  eas  eis  in  capitulo 
Savigneii  concesserunt  et  cartis  suis  confirmaverunt. 
Yolumus  itaque  et  statuimus  quicquid  super  haec  fece- 
runt  ratum  et  firmum  haberi  imperpetuum.  Hiis  tes- 
tibus  Ricardo  abbate  Belbec,  Simone  abbate  de  Sancto 
Andrea,  Galtero  abbate  de  Neht,  Johanne  abbate  de 
Agneto,  Girardo  abbate  de  Lunguilers,  Johanne  abbate 
de  Joravalle,  Radulfo  abbate  de  Chalochi. 

[The  following  shows  that  the  evidences  of  title  were  furnished  by 
deposition  on  inspection  of  deeds,  instead  of  by  transmission  of  the 
charters : — '] 

Reverendis  dominis  et  patribus  W.  abbati  de  Cistercio 

et  cseteris  abbatibus  ibidem  in  Spiritu  Sancto  congreg-a- 

tis  W.  abbas  de  Cumba  et  W.  abbas  de  Mirival  et  W. 

abbas  de  Stanle  salutem  et  sue  humilitatis  obsequium. 

x\.d    praecavenda    varia    pericula    que    itinerantibus    et 

maxime   in  navigatione  possunt  contingere  visum   est 

H.  abbati  de  Bildewas  nostra  pocius  testimonia  quam 

sua    vobis    transmittcre    munimenta   super    subjectione 

domorum  de  Basingvers  et  Dublin.     Nos  itaque  fraterne 

postulacioni  nostrum  suffragium  pro  posse  volentes  im- 

pendere  prenotata  diligenter  inspeximus  et  eandem  quam 

ibi  legimus  formam  vestre  diseretioni   plenius  adnotare 

curavimus.     Valcte. 

1    Sic. 


HENRY    II.  229 

[The  King  v.  Robert,  Earl  of  Leicester.     1177.]1 

[  William  of  C,  homager  of  the  defendant,  asserts  to  tho  king  that  he 
(William)  ought  to  hold  his  lands  of  the  king  in  chief,  instead  of 
holding  thorn  of  tho  defendant,  as  he  was  doing.  The  king  ac- 
cordingly summons  the  defendant,  and  in  answer  to  the  claim  ho 
declines  to  contest  the  matter  with  tho  king,  though  asserting  his 
title.  The  king,  moved  by  the  defendant's  answer,  gives  up  Ids 
claim  to  the  tenements,  retaining,  however,  two  castles.  The 
king  also  yields  to  the  finding  of  an  inquisition  of  the  county  as 
to  other  lands  in  favour  of  the  defendant] 

In  eodera  vero  concilio2  Willelmus  de  Chahannes  inti- 
maverat  regi,  quod  ipse  deberet  de  eo  tenere  in  eapite 
baroniam  suam,  quam  de  Roberto  cornite  Leicestriae 
tenebat.  Haec  autem  dicebat,  pravo  usus  consilio,  quia 
regi  placere  voluit,  qui  doraiuum  suum  odio  habebat. 
Cumque  prsedictus  comes  Leicestriae  ad  diem  sibi  statu- 
tum  per  regis  summonitionem  venisset,  et  cum  omnia 
quae  adversus  eum  loquebantur  auscultasset,  respondit, 
quod  quamvis  praedecessores  sui,  proavus  scilicet  et  avus 
suus,  et  pater  suus,  et  ipsemet  haberent  cartas  et  privilegia 
regum  Angliae,  Willelmi  scilicet  et  Henrici  primi,  de 
terris  suis,  et  nominatim  de  bai'onia  ilia,  et  quamvis  prae- 
decessores  Willelmi  de  Chabannis  baroniam  illam  de 
pnedecessoribus  suis  semper  inconcusse  tenuissent ;  noluit 
tamen  contra  regis  voluntatem,  neque  de  eo  neque  de 
alio  tenemento  placitare  ;  sed  concessit,  ut  id  et  omnia 
alia  tenementa  sua  essent  in  misericordia  regis.  Cumque 
rex  audisset  eum  ita  pie  loquentem,  commotus  pietate, 
reddidit  ei  omnia  tenementa  sua,  in  integrum,  sicut  ea 
liabuit  quindecim  diebus  ante  gwerram ;  sed  rex  retinuit 
in  manu  sua  castellum  de  Munsorel,  et  castellum  de 
Pascy,    quae   duo    solummodo    remanserant    stantia    de 

i   1  Benedictus,  Gesta  Hen.  II.,  133  (Rec.  Com.). 
2  At  Northampton,  after  Jan.  13,  1177. 


230  PLACITA    ANGLQ-NORMANNICA. 

omnibus  castellis  suis.  Reddiditque  ei  vox  ibidem  tut  am 
Leicestriam,  et  forestam,  qua?  jurat®  erant  per  commune 
sacramentum  comitatus  esse  debei'e  de  dominico  suo. 
Sciebat  autem  rex  hoc  factum  fuisse  propter  invidiam,  et 
pro  eo  quod  rex  comitem  odio  habebat. 


[The    Widow    and    Roger,    Eldest   Son,   op   Hugh 
Bigot.     1177.] ' 

[Upon  the  death  of  Hugh  Bigot,  his  widow  by  a  second  marriage  sets 
up  a  claim  on  behalf  of  her  son,  against  tho  eldest  son  (born  of 
the  first  marriage),  to  the  emptiones  et  perquisitiones  of  the  estate, 
asserting  that  the  deceased  had  given  them  to  her  son.  Each  of 
the  parties  goes  to  the  king  with  money  to  obtain  favour;  but 
the  king  on  hearing  both  sides  sets  a  day  for  trying  the  case  bo- 
fore  his  earls  and  barons,  and  in  the  mean  time  takes  the  estate 
into  his  own  hand.] 

Eodem  anno,  ante  Caput  Jejunii,  obiit  comes  Hugo 
Bigot.  Et  Rogerus  Bigot,  ipsius  hceres,  et  uxor  ejus 
venerunt  ad  curiam  apud  Winleshovers  contendentes, 
quis  coram  regi  plus  offeret  pro  hsereditate  comitis 
habenda.  Ipse  vero,  quia  primogenitus  et  haeres  comitis 
erat,  obtulit  regi  et  multa  et  magna,  pro  hsereditate  sua 
habenda  in  integrum,  sicut  pater  suns  earn  tennit,  die 
qua  fuit  vivns  et  mortuus.  Comitissa  vero,  noverca  ipsius 
Rogeri  Bigot,  obtulit  regi  multa  et  magna,  ut  ipse 
concederet  filio  suo  emptiones  et  perquisitiones  ipsius 
comitis.  Dicebat  enim,  quod  comes  Hugo  Bigot  divisit 
filio  suo  quern  de  ea  genuit,  omnes  emptiones  et  perqui- 
sitiones suas.     Et  cum  dominus  rex  utriusque  petitionee 

1   1  Benedictu     <■■-  ta  Hen    M  ,  I  i:;  (R<  c  Com.). 


HENRY    II.  231 

audisset,  praecepit  eis  Lundonias  venire,  ut  ibidem  consilio 
comitum  et  baronum  suorum  eis  secundum  rectum  et 
patriae  eonsuetudinem  satisfaceret.  Tunc  misit  rex  ser- 
vientes  suos,  et  saisiavit  in  raanu  sua  omnes  thesauros 
praedicti  comitis. 

See  Glossary,  Ewptiones. 


[Case  of  John  Senex.  1177.] ' 

[The  defendant,  "a  most  noble  and  wealthy  person,"  is  convicted  of 
robbery  by  the  ordeal  of  water.  He  offers  money  for  his  life,  but 
without  avail.] 

Inter  csoteros2  vero  qui  capti  fuerant,  captus  fuit  quidam 
nobilissimus  et  ditissimus  civium  Lundoniarum,  qui 
nominatus  erat  Johannes  Senex.  Qui  cum  per  judicium 
aqua?  se  mundare  non  posset,  obtulit  quingentas  marcas 
argenti  domino  regi  pro  vita  habenda.  Sed  quia  ipse  per 
judicium  aqua?  perierat,  noluit  denarios  illos  accipere,  et 
praecepit  ut  judicium  de  eo  fieret,  et  suspensus  est. 


[Prior  Roger  v.  Abbot  of  St.  M.     3 177.] s 

[The  defendant  having  feloniously  carried  away  the  body  of  St. 
Petroc  from  the  plaintiff's  abbey  to  the  abbey  of  St.  M.,  the 
plaintiff  obtains  the  king's  writ  against  the  abbot  of  that  abbey, 
ordering  him  to  restore  the  body,  which  is  finally  done.] 

Eodem  anno  quidam  canonicus  de  abbatia  Bothmeniae, 

1  1  Benedictus,  Gesta  Hen.  II.,  156  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  Accused  of robbeiy. 

3  1  Benedictus,  Gesta  Hen.  II.,  178  (Rec.  Com.). 


232  PLACITA    ANGLO- NORMANNICA. 

quae  in  partibus  Cornubise  sita  est,  Martinus  nomine, 
statim  post  Epiphaniam  Domini  furtive  asportavit  corpus 

Sancti  Petroci,  et  cum  eo  fugiens  transfretavit,  et  illud 
sicut  detulit  usque  ad  abbatiam  Sancti  Mevenni  sitam 
in  partibus  Minoris  Britannia?.  Quod  cum  Rogero  priori 
Bothmenire  et  canonicis  ibidem  Deo  servientibus  inno- 
tuisset,  prsedictus  prior,  per  consilium  fratrum  suorum, 
dominum  regem  Anglise  Henricum,  filium  Matillis  impe- 
ratrieis,  adiit,  et  per  ipsius  potential  auxilium,  corpus 
Sancti  Patroci,  quod  per  furtum  amiserant,  recuperassent. 
Ad  instantiam  autem  illorum  concessit  eis  prsefatus  rex 
auxilium  suum,  et  mandavit  per  litteras  suas  Rollando 
de  Dinamno,  justitia?  Brittania?,  quod  sine  dilatione  faceret 
illud  corpus  reddi.  Audito  itaque  mandato  regis,  prse- 
dictus  Rollandus  venit  cum  armata  manu  et  potenti  ad 
abbatiam  Sancti  Mavenni,  et  prsecepit  corpus  illud  reddi ; 
quod  cum  abbas  et  monachi  ejusdem  loci  reddere  nollent, 
ipse  minas  addidit,  jurans  se  per  vim,  nisi  celerius  red- 
deretur,  extrahere  velle  illud. 

The  body  is  then  surrendered,  on  oath  that  it  was  the  identical  one 
required. 


[Mills  of  Canterbury.     1182?]' 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  all  mills  within  and  without  the  walls 
of  Canterbury,  not  belonging  to  the  church,  be  examined,  and 
the  owners  prevented  from  encroaching  upon  the  rights  of  mills 
of  the  church  ;  and  if  the  church  has  suffered  damage,  it  may 
compel  compensation.] 

Hi3NRicus,rexAnglonim,et  dux  NormanniseefcAquitaniae, 

Com.) 


henry  ii.  238 

ct  comes  Andegaviao,  vicecomiti  dc  Kent  et  prsepositis 
civit.it is  Cantuariensis  salutem.  Praecipio  quod  omnia 
molendina,  sive  intra  sive  extra  muros  civitatis  Cantua- 
riensis constructa,  ita  attemperari  et  admensurari  faciatis, 
ut  molendina  Cantuariensis  ecclesiffi  ita  plenarie  molere 
possint,  sicut  molere  solebant  tempore  regis  Henrici  avi 
mei,  ne  ab  aliis  molendinis  aliquatenus  impediantur.  Et 
si  Cantuariensi  ecclesia?  damnum  pervenit  per  aliorum 
molendina  altius  levata,  quam  fuerunt  tempore  regis 
Henrici  avi  mei,  prsecipio  quod  sine  dilatione  et  juste  ei 
ilaul  restaurari  facialis,  ne  inde  amplius  clamorem  audiam 
pro  penuria  justitiae.  Testante  cancellario  apud  Argen- 
tomaffum. 


[Case  of  Gilbert  of  Plumpton.     1181.]  ' 

[The  defendant  is  accused,  out  of  mercenary  motives,  by  Glanvill, 
the  king's  justiciar,  of  carrying  off  and  marrying  a  young  heiress 
in  the  gift  of  the  king,  and  of  breaking  six  gates  and  carrying  off 
a  hunter's  horn  in  the  act,  charging  the  whole  to  have  been  done 
in  latrocinio  et  roberia ;  which  the  defendant  denies,  offering 
proof  of  his  innocence.  Glanvill,  however,  urges  judgment,  and 
the  defendant  is  convicted,  and  ordered  to  be  hung.] 

Interim  dum  rex  moraretur  apud  Wygorniam  cum  exer- 
citu  suo,  ad  debellandum  Resuni  filium  Griffin,  ut  supra- 
dictum  est;2  adductus  est  in  vinculis  juvenis  quidam 
nobili  exortus  prosapia,  et  vocabatur  Gillebertus  de  Plum- 
tonia  ;  quem  Ranulfus  de  Glanvil,  regis  justitiarius,  odio 
babebat,  et  morti  tradere  satagebat :  imponens  il Ii  quod 

1  1  Benedictus,  Gosta  Hen.  II.,  .311  (Rec.  Com.). 
3  That  is,  in  the  chronicle. 


334  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

ipse  puellam  quandam  dc  donatione  regis,  filiam  Rogeri 
de  Guilevast,  rapuit  et  sibi  in  uxorem  retinuii ;  et  quod 
per  noctem  fregit  sex  portas  patris  ipsius  puellaej  et  abstulit 
ei  unum  cornu  venatorium  et  unum  capistrum,  etc.,  et 
praxlictam  puellam.  Adjecit  etiam  quod  hsec  omnia  in 
latrocinio  et  roberia  asportavit.  At  prsedictus  juvenis 
omnia  qua?  ad  vim  et  latrocinia  et  roberiam  pertinebant, 
modis  omnibus  defendebatj  et  super  hoc  se  juri  stare 
obtulit.  At  Ranulfus  de  Glanvil  volens  ilium  deperire, 
quia  proposuerat  prsefatam  puellam,  quam  jam  prsedictus 
Gillebertus  sibi  desponsatam  cognoverat,  Reinero1  vice- 
comiti  Eboracensi,  cum  liaereditate  patris  dare  in  uxorem. 
Hortabatur  autem  eos  qui  ipsum  Gillebertum  judicaturi 
erant,  ut  eum  morti  adjudicarent/  quod  et  ita  factum 
est ;  decreverunt  enim  ilium  suspendendum. 

The  young  man  was,  however,  saved  from  the  gallows  by  the  in- 
tervention and  prohibition  of  Baldwin,  bishop  of  Worcester ;  the  day 
of  execution  being  dies  Dominica.  The  king,  on  hearing  of  the  affair, 
romitted  the  punishment;  but  the  accused  was  kept  iu  prison  the 
rest  of  the  king's  life. 


[Prior   and   Convent   of   Abingdon  and  Thomas  de 
Esseburn.     11 85.] 3 

[The  abbot  of  Abingdon  having  deceased,  the  king  gives  the  abbey  to 
the  custody  of  Thomas  of  E. ;  who  thereupon  proposes  to  put  the 
-wIkjIo  property,  including  that  which  pertained  to  the  prior  and 


1  Glauvill's  stoward  in  1177.  Glanvill  himself  was  sheriff  of  York- 
shire  till  1189. 

-  Glanvill  appears  to  have  acted  as  prosecutor  (appollor),  and  not 
as  judge. 

*  2  Hist.Mon.  Abingd.  297 (Ree.  Cum.). 


HENRY   II.  235 

monks,  into  the  king's  hands.  The  prior  and  convent  oppose 
this,  anil  seek  advice  from  Glanvill,  the  king's  justiciar.  They 
explain  to  him  their  rights  and  customs,  and  seek  protection. 
Afterwards  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  at  Westminster,  Glanvill, 
on  consultation  with  the  bishops  and  other  justiciars  after  the 
case  had  been  fully  presented  before  them,  gives  judgment  in 
favour  of  tho  prior  and  convent,  declaring  their  affairs  to  be 
entirely  separate  from  the  abbot's,  over  which  Thomas  had  been 
appointed  ;  and  Thomas  is  ordered  to  act  accordingly.] 

Defuncto  abbate  Rogero,  et  magistro  Thoma  de  Esse- 
burne,  clerico  domini  regis  Henrici  secundi,  ad  custodien- 
dam  abbatiam  istam  ab  ipso  domino  rege  transmisso, 
propositum  est  nobis  ab  eodem  Thoma  quod  justiciar 
domini  regis  ei  injunxerant  ut  tam  obedientias  nostras, 
quampossessiones  ad  cameram  abbatis  pertinentes,inmanu 
domini  regis  seisiret.  Prior  vero  et  conventus  id  graviter 
ferentes,  et  de  futuro  damno  et  perieulo  magis  timentes, 
instantius  postulabant  ut  seisinam  illam  differret  donee 
super  hoc  cum  justiciis  loqui,  et  eis  jus  antiquitatis,  quod 
a  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  in  obedientiis  nostris  libere  et 
quiete  per  manum  nostram  tractandis,  ostendere  possent. 

De  communi  itaque  consilio  misimus  domnum  Nicho- 
laum,  priorem  nostrum,  cum  quibusdam  fratribus,  ad 
Rannulfum  de  Glanvilla,  qui  justiciariam  potestatem  sub 
rege  in  toto  regno  agebat,  ut  ei  consuetudines  nostras 
diligenter  viva  voce  exponerent,  et  ne  occasione  regiae 
custodial  mutarentur,  aut  turbarentur,  attentius  suppli- 
carent. 

Cum  vero  ad  Rannulfum  de  Glanvilla  ad  scaccarium 
apud  Westmonasterium  venissent,  et  ei  libertates  nostras 
et  consuetudines  plenius  insinuassent,  Rannulfus,  habita 
super  hoc  deliberatione  enm  episcopis  et  aliis  justiciis,  qui 
ei  ad  scaccarium  assidebant,  decreto  totius  curia?  pronun- 
tiavit  nullum  jus,  nullas  consuetudines,  quas  in  obedien- 
tiis nostris  ab  antiquo  habuinms,  aliquo  obtentu  debere 


£36  PLACITA    AXGLOXORMAXXHA. 

innovari,  sive  ecclesia  vacans  sit,  sive  pastore  ordinata 
fuerit.     Prsecepit    etiam    prsedicto  Thoma?,  qui  prsesens 

oral,  ut  quoniam  rationcs  nostra?,  sicut  per  nos  coram  eo 
sufficienter  probatum  erat,  separata?  sunt  a  rationibus 
abbatis,  de  his  tantum  quae  ad  cameram  abbatis  speetant, 
curam  haberet.  Ad  ea  vero  qua?  ad  nos  speetant  manum 
non  apponeret,  sed  plenum  jus  et  potestatem,  tarn  in 
tenementis  nostris  quam  in  tenentibus,  nos  habere  per- 
mitteret.  Dicebat  enim  tota  curia  quod  periculo  nostro 
fieret,  si  quid  a  custodibus  regis  temptaretur,  quod  abba- 
tibus  licere  non  debet. 

[Thomas  now  makes  an  enumeration  of  the  goods  of  the  prior  and 
monks,  and  goes  before  the  court  with  it,  anticipating  the  convent,  and 
hoping  to  obtain  an  order  to  take  the  same  into  custody,  but  without 
success.] 

Fecerat  autem  praedictus  Thomas  omnes  possessiones 
et  consuetudines  nostras  separatim  conscribi,  ex  ore  regis 
et  justitia?  loquens,  ne  ullam  in  his  qua?  facere  properabat 
sustineret  repulsam.  Istud  scriptum  secum  ad  scaccarium, 
priorem  et  fratres  pra?veniens,  detulit,  et  omnibus  jnsticiis 
ostendit,  credens  se  posse  ohtinere  quod  possessiones 
nostra?  in  manus  ejus  traderentur,  ut  victum  et  vestitum 
tenuiter  nobis  inde  ministraret,  et  omnia  qua?  superesse 
possent,  fisco  inferret.  Nam  et  modis  omnibus  fidem 
jnsticiis  facere  nitebatur  pertinentias  nostras  non  tantum 
sequari  pertinentiis  abbatis,  sed  etiam  his  deductis,  quae 
per  manum  abbatis  in  terminis  certis  recipere  consuevi- 
mus,  portionem  ejus  respectu  portionis  nostra?  minimam 
esse.  Cujus  instantiamultum  nobis  nocuisset,  nisi  (u1  praa- 
diximus)  prior  et  fratres  ilium  a  vestigio  secuti,  de  singulis 
consuetudinibus  et  possessionibus  justiciam  plenius  in- 
struxi^senl,  et  eas  saepius  nobis  non  sufficere  docuissent. 

In  1;iu1  urn  denique  praGvaluil  gratia  Dei  quod  Rannulfus 


HENRY    IT.  237 

de  Glanvilla,  justiciarum  primus,  ad  alias  justicias  se 
convertens  dixit,  consuetudines  nostras  rationabiliter  et 
discrete  institutas  fuisse,  nee  aliquid  superfluum  in  eis 
deprehendi  posse,  nee  dominum  regem  velle,  nee  se  audere, 
contra  consuetudines  tarn  antiquas  et  justas  aliquatenus 
venire,  aut  circa  eas  aliquid  immutare.  Rannulfo  vero  de 
Glanvilla  pro  nobis  ita  sententiante,  ut  scilicet  de  caetero 
tarn  possessiones  nostras  cum  plena  libertate,  quam  anti- 
quas consuetudines  cum  omni  integritate,  sicut  inferius 
subscripts?,  et  coram  justiciis  leetae  fuerunt,  haberemus, 
omnibus  etiam  justiciis  qua3  circumsedebant  in  hoc  ei 
faventibus  et  suffragium  suura  ferentibus,  prior  et 
fratres,  qui  cum  ipso  transmissi  erant,  cum  pace  et 
gaudio  reversi  sunt. 

[Here  follows  a  statement  of  the  customs,  revenues,  and  expenses, 
with  an  enumeration  of  property,  &c.  of  the  monastery.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  customs  of  legal  interest : — ] 

Camerarius  habet  in  manu  sua  villam  de  Weliford  et 
villain  de  Chivele,  cum  villulis  appendiciis.  Alia  prao- 
terea  habet  tenementa  et  tenentes,  de  quibus  potest  et 
debet  libere  et  juste  disponere.  Ad  camerarium  enim 
pertinet  omnes  causas  et  negotia  bominum  suorum  audire 
et  terrain  are,  et  delinquentes  pro  qualitate  delicti  poena 
pecuniaria  condemnare ;  quam  pcenam  non  poterit  abbas 
a  camerario,  vel  sine  camerario,  a  condemnatis  exigere, 
nee  earn  contra  voluntatem  camerarii  aut  minuere  aut 
remittere. 

Si  tamen  camerarius  excesserit  et  homines  suos  ad 
indebita  praestanda  saepius  compulerit,  debet  eum  abbas 
secretius,  vel  in  audientia  fratrum,  corripere,  et  ab 
illicitis  exactionibus  cohibere.  De  jure  vero  suo  non 
debet  ei  aliquid  detrahere,  quod  ita  plene  in  omnibus 
habet   et    habere  debet  sicut  abbas  in  suis  tenementis 


238  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOKMANNICA. 

habere  dinoscitur,  prseter  homagia  et  relavamenta,  quae 
solius  abbatis  sunt.  Seel  etsi  homo  liber  de  tenemento 
camerarii  litteras  regis  abbati  pro  justitia  detulerit,  islam 
causam  deducet  abbas  in  curia  sua,  et  proventus  qui  inde 
evenerint  habebit.    .    .    . 

Coquinarius  tenet  villam  de  Abbendonia,  cum  omni- 
moda  libertate;  et  quaecunque  inde  evenerint,  sive  de 
placitis,  sive  de  cseteris  eventionibus  coquinarii  erunt. 
Et  si  ca])tus  fuerit  latro  et  convictus  fuerit  criminis, 
quicquid  de  ejus  substantia  ad  dominum  pertinet  coqui- 
narii erit,  vol  praepositi  qui  de  eo  tenet.  .  .  .  Habet  et 
alia  tenementa,  et  alios  tenentes,  in  quibus  utitur  suo 
jure,  sicut  camerarius  in  suis  tenementis  et  tenentibus. 


[Archbishop    of    Canterbury  v.  Abbot   of    St.  Ed- 
mund.    About  1186.]1 

[A  homicide  having  been  committed  in  lands  of  the  monks  of  Canter- 
bury ,  which  lands  were  in  a  hundred  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Edmund, 
the  men  of  the  archbishop  of  C.  would  not  suffer  the  abbot  fco 
try  the  offenders.  The  abbot,  however,  receiving  intimations  of 
favour  from  the  king,  sends  a  body  of  men  and  takes  away  the 
prisoners  by  force  to  St.  Edmund.  The  archbishop  complains  to 
the  king,  and  obtains  a  writ  from  Glanvill,  the  justiciar,  com- 
manding the  men  of  the  abbot  to  give  security  for  standing  trial, 
and  summoning  the  abbot  to  the  King's  Court  to  answer  for  the 
trespass.  The  case  comes  on  for  trial,  when  charters  ai*e  pro- 
duced mi  both  sides,  and  the  king  is  unable  to  decide  upon  them. 
The  abbot,  however,  offers  to  submit  the  question  to  the  verdict 
of  tho  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  This  offer  is  declined  by 
the  archbishop,  and  the  case  terminates,  tho  abbot  retaining 
seisin  of  the  liberty.] 

In  manerio   moiiachorum  Cantuariensium,  quod  dicitur 
ron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  37  (Camden  Soc). 


HENRY    II.  289 

Illegga,  et  quod  est  in  hundredo  abbatis  [Sancti  iEd- 
mundi] ,  contigit  fieri  homicidium.  Homines  vevo 
archiepiscopi  noluerunt  pati,  ut  illi  homicide  starent  ad 
rectum  in  curia  Sancti  Jvlmundi.  Abbas  vero  con- 
questus  est  regi  Henrico  dicens,  quod  archiepiscopus 
Baldewinus  vendicabat  sibi  libertates  ecclesie  nostre, 
optentu  carte  nove  quam  rex  dederat  ecclesie  Can- 
tuariensi  post  mortem  Sancti  Thome.  Rex  autem  re- 
spondit,  se  nunquam  fecisse  cartam  aliquam  in  preju- 
dicium  ecclesie  nostre,  nee  aliquid  Sancto  iEdmundo 
velle  auferre,  quod  habere  solebat.  Quo  audito,  dixit 
abbas  consiliariis  privatis  suis  :  "  Sanius  consilium  est, 
ut  archiepiscopus  conqueratur  de  me,  quam  ego  de 
archiepiscopo.  Volo  me  ponere  in  saisinam  hujus  liber- 
tatis,  et  post  me  defendam  cum  auxilio  Sancti  iEdmundi, 
cujus  jus  hoc  esse  carte  nostre  testantur.-'''  Subito  ergo 
summo  mane,  procurante  Roberto  de  Cokefeld,  missi  sunt 
circiter  quater  XX.  homines  armati  ad  villam  de  Ilegga, 
et  ex  inopinato  ceperunt  illos  tres  homicidas  et  ligatos 
duxerunt  ad  Sanctum  iEdmundum,  et  in  fundum  car- 
ceris  projecerunt.  Conquerente  inde  archiepiscopo,  Ra- 
nulfus  de  Glanvilla  justiciarius  precepit,  ut  homines  illi 
ponerentur  per  vadium  et  plegios  ad  standum  ad  rectum 
in  curia  qua  deberent  stare,  et  summonitus  est  abbas,  ut 
veniret  ad  curiam  regis,  responsurus  de  vi  et  injuria, 
quam  dicebatur  fecisse  archiepiscopo.  Abbas  vero  sine 
omni  exonio  se  pluries  presentavit.  Tandem  in  Capite 
Jejunii  steterunt  coram  rege  in  capitulo  Cantuariensi,  et 
lecte  sunt  palam  carte  ecclesiarum  hinc  et  inde.  Et 
respondit  dominus  rex  :  "  Iste  carte  ejusdem  antiquitatis 
sunt  et  ab  eodem  rege  iEdwardo  emanant.  Nescio  quid 
dicam  :  nisi  ut  carte  ad  invicem  pugnent/'  Cui  abbas 
dixit  :     "  Quicquid    de    cartis    dicatur,    nos     in    saisina 


2i0  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

sumus,  ct  bucusque  fuirnus,  et  de  hoc  ponere  me  volo  in 

verumdictum    duoriim    comitatumn,   scilicet,  Norfolchie 

ct  Suthfblchie,  se  hoc  concedere."1     Sed  avchiepiscopus 

BaldwinuSj  habito  prius  consilio  cum  suis,  dixit,  homines 

Norfolchie    et    Suthfolchie    multum    diligere    Sanctum 

iEdmundum,   et  magnam   partem  illorum   comitatuum 

esse  sub  dictione  abbatis,  et  ideo  se  nolle  stare  illorum 

arbitrio.     Ilex  vero  iratus  inde  et  indignans  surrexit,  et 

recedendo  dixit :  "  Qui  potest  capere  capiat :  "  et  sic  res 

cepit  dilacionem,  "  et  adhuc  sub  judice  lis  est." 2 

The  chronicler  adds,  immediately  after  the  above :  "  Vidi  tamen, 
quod  quidain  homines  monachorum  Cantuariensium  vulnerati 
fuerunt,  usque  ad  mortem,  a  rusticis  de  villa  do  Meldingis,  que  sita 
est  in  hundredo  Sancti  JEdmundi ;  et  quia  sciverunt,  quod  actor 
forum  rei  sequi  debet,  maluerunt  silere  et  dissimulare,  quam  inde 
clamorem  facere  abbati  sivo  ballivia  ejus,  quia  nullo  modo  voluorunt 
venire  in  curiam  Sancti  iEdmundi  ad  plaoitandum." 


[Monks    of    Canterbury    v.    Archbishop    Baldwin. 
Ecclesiastical.     1187.]3 

[The  monks  of  Canterbury  obtain  a  mandate  from  the  popo  directing 
three  abbots  to  restrain  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  from  acts 
of  oppression  over  them;  but  while  the  abbots  are  deliberating 
as  to  the  manner  of  enforcing  the  pope's  mandate,  the  arch- 
il obtains  a  -writ  from  the  king's  justiciar,  Glanvill,  re- 
quiring  them  to  desist  in  their  purpose  until  the  cause  can  be 
heard  before  him,  and  summoning  the  parties  before  himself 
without  delay.  A  similar  writ  is  issued  to  the  sub-prior  and 
convent.  The  trial  coming  on,  the  sub-prior  essoins  himself  for 
sickness.     The  caso    proceeds,  and  Glanvill  prohibits  the  monks 

1  Thai  the  charters  have  granted  this  right  ? 

-  Hor.  Ars  Poet.  v.  78. 

1  1  Twysden's  Scriptores,  L503  (Gervasius  ol  Dover). 


1IF.NKY    II.  -l\\ 

from  using  tlio  pope's  mandates  until  tlicy  shall  liavc  conferred 
with  the  king,  on  the  ground  that  the  mandates  are  in  derogat  ion 
of  the  laws  of  lie  kingdom,  and  directs  them  to  carry  th(>  man- 
dates to  the  king  wii  bin  fifteen  days  ;  also  to  remove  the  stewards 
and  monks  put  in  places  contrary  to  the  will  of  the  archbishop. 
The  three  abbots  are  also  prohibited  from  executing  the  pope's 
mandate  to  them.  Monks  are  now  sent  to  the  king,  win  reach 
him  in  advance  of  the  archbishop,  and  obtain  his  favour,  and 
succeed  in  preventing  his  interference  on  behalf  <>r  the  arch- 
bishop.] 

Baldewinus  autera  Cantuariensis  arehiepiscopus  a  suo 
necdum  desistens  proposito  cotidie  snum  affligebat  con- 
ventum.  Qui  cum  nee  modice  quidem  apostolico 
deferret  mandato,1  tres  abbates  illi,  videlicet  de  Bello, 
de  Fauresham  et  Sancti  Augustini  Cantuarise,  qui  Can- 
tuariensis causa;  fuerant  executores,  praefato  archiepiscopo 
commonitoriam  miserunt  epistolam,  eique  vigilam  Ja- 
cobi  apostoli  diem  peremtorium  praefixerunt,  rogantes 
suppliciter  ut  apostolico  obediret  mandate,  ne  eciam  ipsis 
in  obediential  periculum  immineret.  Sed  cum  prsedicti 
abbates  et  monacbi  Cantuarienses  de  forma  executionis 
cogitarent,  ipsumque  arcbiepiscopum  vel  ejus  nuntios 
responsales  expectarent,  a  prsefecto  Anglise  Randulfo  de 
Glanvilla  bujusmodi  susceperunt  mandatum. 

Randulfus  de  Glanvilla  abbati  de  Bello  salutem. 
Praecipio  tibi  ex  parte  domini  regis  per  fidem  quam  ei 
debes  et  per  sacramentum  quod  ei  fecisti,  ut  nullo  modo 
procedas  in  causa  quae  vertitur  inter  monachos  Cantuari- 
enses et  dominum  Cantuariensem  arcbiepiscopum  donee 
hide  mecum  locutus  fueris.  Teste  Willielmo  de  Glan- 
villa per  pra?ceptum  domini  regis  de  ultra  mare.  Et 
omni  dilatione  et  occasione  remota  sis  ad  me  apud 
Londoniam   proxima    die   Sabbati  post   festum    Sanctse 

1  The  interference  of  the  pope  had  been  sought  and  obtained  by 
the  monks. 


:\:1  PLACITA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Margaritas  virginis  mecura  inde  loeuturus.  Teste  cod  cm 
apud  Westmonasterium. 

Suppriori  quoque  el  conventui  scripsit  sic. 

Randulfus  de  Glanvilla  suppriori  et  conventui  ecclesiae 
Christi  Cantuarise  salutem.  Prsecipio  vobis  ex  parte 
domini  regis  ne  aliquo  modo  utamini  contra  domi- 
num  Cantuariensem  archiepiscopum  aliqua  perquisitione 
quam  contra  eum  quaesistis,  donee  inde  mecum  locuti 
fueritis.  Et  tu  supprior  absque  occasione  et  dilatione 
sis  Londoniis  in  festo  Sancti  Jacobi  cum  consilio  con- 
ventus  tui,  auditurus  et  facturus  quod  tibi  dieetur 
ex  parte  domini  regis,  et  ibi  tunc  tecum  habeas 
perquisitiones  quae  perquisite  sunt  contra  dominum 
Cantuariensem  archiepiscopum.  Teste  Willielmo  de 
Glanvilla  per  prseceptum  domini  regis  de  ultra  mare. 
Per  ipsum  Willielmum. 

His  auditis  mirati  sunt  universi.  Cum  autem  supprior 
corporea  detentus  infirmitate  Londoniam  venire  non 
valeret,  missi  sunt  ad  Randull'um  monachi  duo  aetat< 
provecti,  qui  ex  parte  convcntus  supprioris  absentiam 
excusarent,  et  tenorem  regii  audirent  mandati.  Cum 
autem  prsel'ectus  Anglia;  Randuli'us  de  supprioris  absentia 
causaretur,  dicens  simplicius  quam  deecret  rem  fact  am 
I'uisse,  subjunxit ;  Domino  nostro  regi  insinuatum  est, 
quod  vos  habetis  quasdam  perquisitiones  de  Roma  contra 
eum  et  regnum  ipsius  quibusjura  regni  vultis  diminuere, 
et  ijisius  statum  eommutare.  Ideoque  prsecepit  dominus 
rex,  et  nos  ex  parte  ipsiusinjungimus,  neperquisitionibus 
illis  utamini  antequam  inde  cum  ipso  domino  rege  locuti 
fueritis.  Unde  prsecipio  ut  infra  XV.  dies  ad  dominum 
regem  cum  vestris  privilegiis  monachos  mittatis,  ut  ejus 
arbitrio  vel  approbentur  vcl  penitus  proiciantur.  Senes- 
callos  vero  illos  el   monachos  quos  terris  vestris  prseter 


HENRY    II.  24-3 

conscientiam  arehiepiscopi  praeposuistis,  praecipimus  amo- 
veri. 

1 1  is  audit  is,  monachi  illi  Cantuariam  eontinuo  redie- 
runt.  Attameu  missi  sunt  alii  nuntii  a  praefecto 
Cantuariam,  qui  in  audientia  con ven tus  eadem nuntiarent 
edicta.  Abbatibus  quoque  tribus  minaciter  ex  imperio 
regis  inhibitum  est,  ne  occasione  aliqua  domini  papae 
exequerentur  mandatum.  Missi  sunt  itaque  monachi  ad 
regem  in  Normanhiam,  ut  cum  aliis  ejusdem  ecclesiae 
monachis  qui  propter  alia  negotia  ecclesiae  ad  regem  diu 
ante  ipsos  missi  fuerant,  de  falsa  accusatione  absque 
privilegiorum  ostensione  conventum  excusarent,  suaeque 
consuetudines  ecclesiae  in  suarum  rerum  libera  adminis- 
tration ex  antiquo  regum  tempore  demonstrarent.  .    .    . 

Igitur  archiepiscopus  de  suo  proposito  desperatus,1 
festinus  ad  mare  descendit,  et  quasi  gaudens  quod  tam 
callide  potestate  laica  apostolicum  elisisset  mandatum, 
III.  idus  Augusti  apud  Dovoriam  transfretavit.  Prae- 
missi  sunt  autem  ad  regem  ut  praedictum  est  monachi 
duo,  qui  conventum  ab  impositis  excusarent.  Qui  cum 
secretius  cum  rege  de  vocatione  monachorum,  de  pri- 
vilegiis  exhibendis,  de  inhibitione  mandati  apostolici 
exequendi  plura  proferrent,  conventumque  excusarent, 
quod  nil  contra  regem  vel  regnum  perquisissent, 
rex  ad  omnia  miratus  juravit  in  verbo  regio  quod  nee 
monachos  mandaverit  nee  privilegia,  et  quod  executio 
mandati  apostolici  per  eum  non  steterit.  De  invasione 
eciam  maneriorum  plurimum  visus  est  admirari,  dicens 
archiepiscopum  in  omnibus  bis,  et  maxime  in  axlifica- 
tione  novae  ecclesiae  multum  errasse,  seque  eidem  archi- 
episcopo  ad  constructionem  operis  hujusmodi  nunquam 
dedisse  consilium,  sed  simpliciter  canoniao  faciendae  prae- 
buisse  assensum. 

1  His  demands  were  still  refused. 
R   2 


i  1 4  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.     1187.] ' 

|  I iii mis  of  St.  Edmund  having  been  subjected  to  amercements,  tin- 
abbot  complains  before  the  king,  exhibiting  charters  to  show  that 
bis  lands  are  not  subject  to  amercement.  The  king  directs  an  in- 
quisition before  the  barons  of  the  Exchequer  to  determine  tin- 
truth  of  the  matter;  the  result  being  in  favour  of  the  abbot.] 

Duo  comitatus  Norfolchia  et  Suthfolchia  positi  fuerunt 
in  misericordia  regis  a  justiciariis  errantibus  propter 
quoddam  forisfacturam,  et  posite  fuerunt  L.  uaarce  super 
Norfolchiam,  et  XXX.  super  Sutfolciam.  Et  cum  quedam 
porcio  de  ilia  communi  misericordia  poneretur  super 
terras  Sancti  iEdmundi  et  acriter  exigeretur,  abbas  sine 
omni  mora  adiit  dominum  regem,  et  invenimus  eum 
apud  Clarendonam  ;  ostensaque  ei  carta  regis  /Edwardi, 
que  liberas  facit  terras  Sancti  iEdmundi  de  omnibus 
geldis  et  scottis,  precepit  rex  per  literas  suas,  ut  sex 
milites  de  comitatu  de  Norforchia  et  sex  de  Sutfolchia 
summonerentur  ad  recognoscendum  coram  baronibus 
scaccarii,  utrum  dominia  Sancti  ^Edmundi  deberent  esse 
quieta  de  communi  misericordia ;  et  electi  sunt  tantum 
sex  milites,  ut  ita  parceretur  laboribus  et  expensis,  et 
ideo  quia  habuerunt  terras  in  utroque  comitatu,  scilicet 
Hubertus  de  Briseword,  W.  filius  Hervei,  et  Willielmus 
de  Franchevilla,  et  tres  alii,  qui  Londonias  iverunt 
nobiscum,  et  ex  parte  duorum  comitatuum  libertatem 
ecclesie  nostre  recognoverunt.  Justiciarii  autem  assiden- 
tes  veruindietiiin  illorum  inrollaverunt. 

Chron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  17  (Camden  Soc  ) 


HENRY    11. 


*!.. 


CASES  OF  THIS  REIGN  OF  LESS  CERTAIN 
DATE. 

[Abbot  of  Battel  v.  Alan  de  Bellafago.]  ' 

[  The  right  of  presentation  to  the  church  at  Mendlesham  tried  in 
the  King's  Court,  "  though  without  detriment  to  ecclesiastical 
rights  or  dignities."  Alan,  the  defendant,  relies  on  charters 
of  abbot  Warner.  Though  these  are  somewhat  suspicious,  the 
whole  court  advise  a  compromise.  This  is  agreed  to,  and  the 
compromise  drawn  up.  A  day  is  now  set  for  the  parties  to  give 
formal  consent  to  it,  but  Alan  fails  to  appear,  and  is  amerced. 
Another  day  is  fixed;  Alan  appears,  consents,  and  resigns  his 
charters  into  the  abbot's  hands,  receiving  in  return  a  grant  of 
the  church  at  Brantham  to  hold  of  the  abbey  at  an  annual 
pension  of  a  crown.] 

[Alan  de  Bellafago  seizes  the  church  at  Mendlesham, 
a  vacancy  having-  occurred.  He  had  previously  claimed 
it  under  charters  from  abhot  Warner,  of  St.  Martin.] 
Utehatur  ergo  Alanus  institutione  propria,  nee  ad  renun- 
tiandum  injustse  possessioni  aliquatenus  consensit.  Re- 
deunt  interea  de  transmarinis  nuntii  abbatis,  praeceptum 
regium  ad  justicias  deferentes,  quo  super  ecclesia  de 
Mendlesham  abbati  de  Bello  justitia;  plenitudo  exhibeatur. 
Dies  locusque  apud  Wintoniam  regia  auctoritate  abbati 
et  Alano  statuitur,  ut  ad  unius  actionem,  alteriusque 
objectionem,  veritatis  plenior  fieret  inquisitio.  Actum 
est  hoc  auctoritate  regia,  ad  nullius  tamen  ecclesiastiei 
juris  dignitatisve  detrimentum,  quippe  cum  hoc  solum 
curia  regia  dueeret  inquirendum,  cujus  pra?sentatione 
idem  Alanus  in  ecclesiam  de  Mendlesham  in  fundo  reg-io 
silam,  a  praxlecessoribus  ipsius  domini  regis,  et  se 
monasterio  de  Bello  concessam  et  confirmatam,  fuerit 
institutus.  Constabat  enim  eum  nullius  nisi  aut  domiui 
regis,  lanquam  domini   fundi,  aut  monachorum  de  Bello, 

1  Chron.  Mum.  di    Bello,  125  (Aug.  Chris.  Soc).     See  ante,  p.  174, 
note. 


2-16'  PLACITA   ANGL0-N0EMANN1CA. 

quibus  ipsa  ecclesia  regia  largitione  assignata  esse  dinos- 
citur,  institui  debere  praesentatione.  Adest  die  et  loco 
determinato  superstes  adhnc,  enjus  superius  facta  est 
mentio,  Robertus  Philosophus  vices  abbatis  illic  adversus 
Alanum  ibidem  tunc  etiam  prsesentem  executurus.  Quo 
in  prsesentia  justiciarum  jus  monasterii  Sancti  Martini 
de  13ello  exponente,  et  super  Alani  invasionem  conque- 
rente,  Alanus  rcnitens,  cartas  quas  abbatis  Warnerii 
nomine  prsenotatas  memoravimus  prsetendit,  seque  ex  ip- 
sius  abbatis  dum  adliuc  viveret  consensu  illic  admissum 
esse  asseruit.  Licet  igitur  diligenter  intuentibus  palam 
esset  cartas  ipsas  notam  falsitatis  habere,  erat  tamen 
omnium  qui  aderant  unanime  consilium  et  persuasio,  ut 
hinc  inde  potius  ducerent  componendum  quam  litig-an- 
dum.  Consilio  et  voluntati  persuadentium  pars  utraque 
consentit,  sicque  ab  arbitris  datur  hujusmodi  forma 
compositionis,  quatinus  scilicet  Alanus  toti  juri  ([nod  in 
ecclesia  de  Mendlesham  se  habere  fatebatur  sponte 
renuntians,  cartas  memoratas  quibus  partem  suam  tueri 
nitebaturin  manus abbatis  resignaret.  Cujus  sic  gratiam 
adeptus,  solam  ecclesiam  de  Brantbam  quam,  ut  prae- 
diximus,  minus  eanonice  assecutus  est,  c\  qua  pensio 
X.  solidorum  pro  antiqua  eonsuetudine  solvebatur,  sub 
annua  pensione  unius  aurei  monasterio  Sancti  Martini 
de  Bello  solvenda,  nomine  ipsius  monasterii  quoad  viveret 
teneret,  e\  sic  lis  omnis  et  controversia  conquiesceret. 

Omnibus  banc  compositionis  formam  probantibus, 
partibusque  bine  inde  consentientibus, dies  locusque  apud 
Cantuariam  statuitur,  quo  coram  justiciis  abbas  in  per-: 
sona  propria,  et  Alanus  confirmandse  compositionis  for- 
mats gratia  conveniant.  Abbate  die  ct  loco  denominato 
coram  justiciis  apparente,  Alanus  aec  comparens  nee 
excusatorem  dirigens,  omnium  judicio  misericordiae  regis 


HENRY   n.  217 

addicitur,  postmodum  vero  dies  locusque  apud  Londonias 
conveniendij  remque  confirmandi  utrique  parti  iterato 
praefigitur.  Assunt  denique  hine  hide  ad  diem  et  locum, 
ulii  totius  rei  serie  et  compositionis  forma  in  justieiarum 
domini  regis  et  aliorum  quamplurium  audientia  plenius 
exposita,  Alanus  cartas  memoratas  in  manus  abbatis 
resiguavit,  sicque  cartam  abbatis  de  sola  ecclesia  de 
Brantham  nomine  monasterii  de  Bello  tenenda  sub  pen- 
sione  unius  aurei  annuatim  solvenda  suscepit. 

Alan  having  subsequently  sought  to  have  his  brother,  Roger  de 
Bellafago,  instituted  into  the  church  at  Brantham,  to  hold  of  the 
abbot,  the  abbot  consents.  Alan  now  comes  before  the  king's 
justices  and  barons  in  the  Exchequer,  and  renounces  for  ever  his 
claim  upon  the  churches  at  Brantham,  Mendlesham,  and  Branford,  and 
the  rest  of  the  dowry  churches. 


[Case  of  Henry  of  Essex.     Before  1163.]  ' 

[The  defendant  being  accused  of  rape  upon  a  girl,  objects  successfully 
(semble)  to  trial  therefor  except  in  his  own  court,  on  the  ground 
that  the  girl  was  born  in  his  demesne.] 

Processu  vero  temporis,  cum  in  curia  Sancti  -ZEdmundi 
ageretur  causa  de  raptu  cujusdam  virginis,  accessit  idem 
Henricus  [de  Esexia]  protestans  et  asserens,  loquelam 
illam  in  curia  sua  debere  tractari  ratione  nativitatis  ejus- 
dem  puelle,  que  in  dominio  suo  de  Lailand  nata  fuerat. 
Cujus  rationis  pretextu,  curiam  Sancti  jiEdmundi  in 
itineribus  et  innumerabilibus  expensis  lonq-o  temporis 
tractu  vexare  presumpsit. 

'■   Chron.  Joe.  de  Brake!.  51  (Camden  Soc.). 


248  placita    \.\(;i.o-noi;m.\n.M('a. 

[Pbjob  of  Hospital  op  Jerusalem  v.  Abbot  Ham i. in.]  ' 

[Record  of  composition  of  a  litigation  concerning  property  in  t  lie  pos- 
session of  the  defendant,  and  claimed  by  the  plaintiff.] 

Hillamtts,  Dei  gratia  Cycestrensis  episcopus,  omnibus 
Matris  Ke<  l.'si;i'  filiis  ad  quos  carta  ista  pervenerit, 
salutem.  Nullus  erit  litium  finis  si  res  semel  terminate 
recte  iteratis  refragationibus  perturbetur.  Papa  siquidem 
Alexander  causam,  qua?  inter  monasterium  beati  Petri 
Gloucestria?  et  hospitalem  domum  Jerosolomitanam 
super  ecclesia  Quenintone  vertebatuTj  mihi  cognoscendam 
terminandamque  delegavit. 

Causa  autein  hsec  erat.  Abbas  et  monachi  ipsius 
monasterii  quiete  et  sine  alicujus  reclamatione  duas 
garbas  decimarum  dominii,  et  unam  virgatam  terra?  in 
eadem  villa  possidebant.  Ecclesiam  quoque  ipsius  loci 
cum  suis  pertinentiis  asserebant  prior  et  fratres  pra3dicti 
hospitalis  ens  injuste  occupasse,  et  contra  justitiam 
detinere.  Post  multas  itaque  hinc  inde  allegationes, 
controversiam  ipsam.  utriusque  partis  assensu,  in  hunc 
modum  amicali  compositione  terminavimus.  Praefata 
domus  hospitalis  tenebit  jam  dictam  ecclesiam  cum 
duabus  garbis  dominii  et  virgata  terra:'  in  perpetuum 
nomine  monasterii,  et  ei  annuatim  inde  nomine  census 
duas  marcas  argenti  persolvet.  Verumtamen  veniente 
Roberto  clerico,  nunc  ejusdem  ecclesise  persona,  prior 
hospitalis,  qui  pro  tempore  fuit,  unam  dimidiam  dum- 
taxat  marcam  argenti  annuatim  monasterio  solvet,  quam 
a  I»(i})crlo  annuatim  percipiet,  nihil  amplius  ab  eo 
nomine  ecclesia?  vel  supradictse  decimae  sive  virgatse 
terra'  petiturus.  Quod  <i  di'iiiu^  hospitalis  huic  transac- 
tion! nun  stcterii,  monasterio  licebil  ecclesia'  et  aliorum 

i  2  Chron.  Hon.  Glouc.  93  I  Et(  c.  Com,  . 


iii;nky   ii.  249 

supradictorum  possessionem  propria  auctpritate  ingredi, 
el  sibi  retinere.     Testibus.      [Names  not  given.] 

[The  following  confirmation  by  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  is  given 
directly  after  the  above  : — ] 

T. '  Dei  gratia  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopus,  Anglorum 

primas,  et    Apostoiicse    Sedis    legatus,  omnibus  Sanctse 

Matris  Ecclesiae   fidelibus  ad  quos  carta  ista  pervenerit, 

salutem.     Quia    eontroversia    quae     inter    monasterium 

beati  Petri  Gloucestri;e  et  hospitalem   domum    Jerosolo- 

mitanam  super  ecclesia  Quenintone  vertebatur,  amicabili 

compositione    interveniente    sopita    est,  ne    succedente 

tempore  in  dubiura  revoeari  possit,  noseam  scripto  nostro 

inposterum    notitiam    deducere    decrevimus,  earn   ratam 

habentes  et  sigilli   nostri   munimine  confirmantes,  sieut 

carta  venerabilis  fratris   nostri  episcopi  Cycestrensis   in 

praesentia  ipsius  episcopi    compositionem    illam    lactam 

esse  testatur.     Valete. 


[Robert  of  Laking  et  al.  v.  Scaliger.]2 

[The  defendant  being  about  to  appoint  the  church  Lis  "heir"  as  to 
his  bouses,  the  plaintiffs  set  up  a  claim  to  the  same  by  inherit- 
ance. The  claim  is  tried  in  the  common  hallmoot  of  Abingdon, 
judgment  being  given  in  favour  of  the  defendant.] 

Rjcabdo3  adhuc  persuadentc,  quidam  Scalegrai  vulgariter 
nominates,  ole  domibus  suis  ecclesiam  haeredem  facere 
cogitavit.     Quod    cum    duo    ejus    propinqui    audirent, 

1  Thomas  a  Becket  or  Theobald. 

"  -1  Hist.  .Muii.  Abingd.  205  (Eec.  Com.). 
3  Abbot  of  Abingdon. 


:2.")d  ri,.UTl.\    ANGLO-NORMANNJCA. 

Robertas  videlicet  de  Lakinge  e1  alius  quidam  Robertus, 
hsereditariam  super  domos  illas  calumniam  movenint. 
Quae  causa  in  com  muni  hallimot  ad  hoc  tandem  perducta 
est,  ut  uterque  calumniator,  quia  ibi  nihil  juris  habebat, 
vacuus  a  spe  sua,  ut  justum  erat,  recederet.  Sicque 
praedictus  Scalegrai  domos  suas  voluntarie  huic  ecclesise 
donavit. 


[Monks  of  Abingdon.]1 

[The  king's  writ  of  novel  disseisin  in  favour  of  the  monks  of  Abingdon 
as  to  lands  at  C] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  ct  dux  Normannia?  et  Aquitania-, 
et  comes  Andegaviai,  Rialfo  Suessione,  salutem.  Si 
mouadii  de  Abbendonia  sunt  dissaisiati  iujuste  et  sine 
judicio  de  terra  Nigelli  de  Colebroc  quam  clamant,  tunc 
praecipio  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione  eas  inde  resaisias, 
sicut  inde  saisati  fuerunt  tempore  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei; 
et  nisi  feceris,  justitia  vel  vicecomes  meus  faciat  fieri. 
Teste  Willelmo  filio  Johannis ;  apud  Wdestocam. 

Observe  here  the  nearly  perfectly  developed  writ  of  novel  disseisin. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]3 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  protection  "l'  the  abbot  and  monks  of 
Gloucester  in  the  charity  of  0.] 

IIi.\i;k  i  s,  ic\  Anglise  e1  dus  Normannise  el  Aquitanniae 

■  2  Hist.  -Moil  Abingd.  224  (Rec.  Com.). 
!  ( Ihron.  Mon.  Glouc.  240  I  Rec.  Com.). 


HENRY    II.  251 

et  comes  Andegaviae  Jordano  de  Sanforde,  salutem. 
Pravipio  quod  juste  manuteneas  abbatem  et  monachos 
Gloucestria?  de  elemosina  mea  et  antecessorum  meorum 
de  Chelesworthe  quam  Henricus  rex  avus  mens  eis  con- 
firmat  carta  sua,  nee  permittas  quod  aliquis  eis  injuriaui 
faciat,  vel  contumeliam  contra  cartam  regis  Henrici  avi 
mei  et  tuamj  et  nisi  feceris  vicecomes  de  Wiltesyra 
laeiat.     Teste  Symone  rilio  Petri  apud  Northamptoniam. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  op  Gloucester.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  abbot  aud  monks  of  Gloucester  be 
put  in  possession  of  certain  mills.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitannise 

et  comes  Andegaviae,  H.  comiti  Cestriae  et  M.  comitissae, 

salutem.     Prsecipio  quod  sine   dilatione  et  juste   faciatis 

habere   abbati  et  monachis  de  Gloucestria2  quos  comes 

Ranulfus    eis    dedit    in    molendinis    de    Olneyo    et    de 

Taddeswelle,  sicut  carta  sua  testatur.     Et  displicet  mihi 

quod  hoc  non  fecistis,  sicut  prsecepi  per  alia  brevia  mea. 

Et  nisi  feeeritis,  vicecomes  meus  vel  justiciarius  faciat, 

ne  iude  elamorem  amplius  audiam  pro  penuria  recti. 

The  writ  appears  to  have  been  disobeyed.     Fee  the  following  writ. 


[Same  Parties.]  3 

[Alias  writ.] 

Henricus,   dux    Normanniae   et   Aquitannise   et   comes 

1   1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  211  (Rec.  Com). 

:   An    evident    omission    here.      The    next    writ    infra    shows    that 
" molendinos "  is  the  omitted  word. 
a   1  Chron.  Men.  Glouc.  241  (Rec.  Com.). 


:!'■)!  PLA.CITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

Andegavise,  Eustachio  filio  Johannis  et  Jocelino  Castel- 
lano  Fruarii,  salutera.  Mando  vobis  et  prsecipio  quod 
sicut  me  diligitis  monachis  Gloucestrise  habere  faciatis 
omnia  quae  tic  jure  eorum  sunt  apud  vos,  et  nominatim 
quoddam  molendinum  suum  apud  Olneyam  ex  dono 
Ranulphi  comitis  Cestriae  pro  XL.  solidis,  et  aliud  molen- 
dinum apud  Taddewelle  ex  dono  Aliz  sororis  ejusdem 
comitispro  anima  ELicardi  liiii  Gileberti  virisui,  et  ten-am 
suam  apud  Coleby,  ne  auxilii  vestri  penuria  monachi 
praedicti  omittant.     Hiis  testibus.      [Names  not  given.] 


[Abbot  of  (i  loucester.  1' 

[The  king's  writ  in  favour  of  the  abbot    of   Gloucester  in   respect  of 
customs  anil  services  claimed  against  him.] 

Henricus,  Dei  gratia  rex  Angliae  et  Aux  Normanniae 
v\  comes  Andegavia3j  Ada'  de  Purl,  salutem.  Prohibeo 
tibi  ne  injuste  vexes,  vel  vexari  permittas,  abbatem 
Gloucestriae  de  libero  tenemento  suo  de  Litletone,  nee  ab 
eo  inde  exigas,  vel  exigi  permittaSj  consuetudines  vel 
sevvitia  qua?  inde  facere  non  debeat  vel  solebat,  nee  ullam 
ei  inde  injuriam  vel  molestiam  facias  ant  gravamen.  Et 
nisi  fecerifi  vicecomes  de  Suthamptesyra  faciat,  ne  inde 
amplius  clamorem  audiam  pro  defectu  recti  vel  justitiae. 
Teste  etc.     [Name  not  given.] 

1  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  388 (Rec.  Com.). 


henry  ii.  253 

[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]  ' 

[  The  king's  writ  directing  respect  for  the  liberties  of  Gloucester.] 
Henricus,2  rex  Augliae,  et  duxNormannitTe  et  Aquitanniae, 
et  comes  Andegavia>,  omnibus  burgensibus  et  ministris 
suis  Gloucestria?,  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  abbas  et 
monachi  Gloucestria?  habeant  infra  burgum  Gloucestriae, 
et  extra,  omnes  libertktes,  et  liberas  consuetudines,  et 
quietantias  suas,  ita  bene  et  in  pace,  et  libere  et  integre, 
et  juste,  sicut  eas  unquain  melius  et  liberius  et  integrals 
habuerunt  tempore  regis  Henrici  avi  mei.  Quod  nisi 
feceritis,  justitia  mea  faciat  fieri.  Teste  Mansero  Biseth, 
dapifero ;  apud  Fufeeham. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]  n 

[The  king's  writ  directing  protection  of  the  abbot   and  monks  of 
Gloucester  in  the  use  of  a  watercourse.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglia?,  et  dux  Normannite  et  Aquita- 

nia?,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  vicecomitibus  et  pra?positis,  et 

ballivis,  et  hominibus  de  Gloucestria,  salutem.    Pra?cipio 

quod  abbas  et  monachi  de  Gloucestria  habeant  et  teneant 

aquam  qua?  currit  per  abbatiam  suam,  bene  et  in  pace,  et 

juste  et  integre,  sicut  habuerunt  melius  tempore  Henrici 

regis,  avi  mei.     Et  prohibeo   ne  quis  disturbet  cursum 

illius  aqua?,  desicut  ivit  tempore  Henrici  regis,  avi   mei, 

super  X.  libris  forisfactura?.     Teste.      [No  name.] 

[A  writ  to  the  same  effect  follows  by  king  Stephen.  The  following, 
also  by  Henry  II.,  seems  to  relate  to  the  same  watercourse  : — ] 

Henricus4  rex  Anglia?  et  dux  Normannia?  et  Aquita- 

1  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  154  (Rec.  Com.). 

2  Illumination  of  initial  letter,  representing  the  king  on  his  throne, 
and  a  monk  kneeling  before  him  and  receiving  the  writ.  Note  by 
editor  of  Bolls  ed. 

3  1  Chron.  Mon.  Clone,  154  (Roe.  Com.).  4    lb.  155. 


254  PLACHTA   axci.o-xokmaxxica. 

niae,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  vicecomitibus,  et  ministris,  et 
burgensibus  suis  dc  Gloucestria,  salutem.  Concedo  et 
con  firm  o  abbati  et  monachis  Sancti  Petri  Gloucestriae 
aquam  de  Pulebroke  quae  eurrit  per  abbatiam  suam 
totam  liberam  et  quietam.  Qua  re  volo  et  pra?cipio  ne 
quis  ejusdem  cursum  aquae  retardare,  vel  distrahere,  vel 
ipsis  monachis  hide  injuriam  facere  prsesumat,  super  X. 
libris  forisfacturae.     Hiis  testibus.     [No  names  given.] 


[Abbot  of  Gloucester  v.  Men  of  Gloucester,]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  commanding  the  defendant  to  render  the  customary 
service  to  the  plaintiff.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitaniae, 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  burgensibus  abbatis  Gloucestriae  de 
Gloucestria,  salutem.  Praecipio  vobis  quod  reddatis 
abbati  Gloucestria?,  de  terris  quas  de  ipso  tenetis,  omnes 
consuetudines  et  rectitudines  quas  hide  solebatis  reddere 
tempore  avi  mei  regis  Henrici :  quia  de  illis  qua?  ad  jus 
ecclesiae  pertinent,  nullam  quietudinem  vobis  concessi. 
II iis  testibus.     [No  names  given.] 


[Monks  of  Gloucester.]  ■ 

[The    king's    writ    directing    his    officers    to  protect    the    monks    of 
Gloucester  in  the  possession  of  a  certain  wood.] 

Henricus,  Dei  gratia  res  Angliae,  et   dux    Normanniae 
et  Aquitaniae,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  justiciariis  et  vice- 

'   1  Chron.  Men.  Glouc.  189  (Roc  Com.).  :  2  lb  111. 


henry   ii.  255 

comitibus  et  ballivis  suis  de  Glouccstresira,  salutem. 
Prsecipio  vobis,  quod  non  permittatis  monachos  Glou- 
cestrise  vexari  de  bosco  suo  villa)  suae  de  Tuffeleya,  nee 
boscum  illud  ab  aliquo  vastari,  nee  aliquam  violentiam 
aut  molestiam  vel  injuriam  eis  inde  fieri.  Et  prohibeo 
ne  qnis  in  ea  fuget,  vel  leporem  capiat,  sine  eovum 
licentia,  super  decern  libras  forisfaeturse.  Teste  Mansero 
Biset  dapif'ero  apud  Wyntoniam. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  abbot  and  monks  of  Gloucester 
hold  in  peace  their  essarts  of  M.  and  H.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglia?  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitannise 
et  comes  Andegavia?,  vieeeomiti  de  Gloucestria  et 
ministris  suis,  salutem.  Prsecipio  quod  abbas  et  monachi 
de  Gloucestria  teneant  et  habeant  in  pace  essarta  sua  de 
Mayesmora  et  de  Hardepyre. 


[Monks  of  Gloucester.]2 

[The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  monks  of  Gloucester  have  pos- 
session of  all  their  lands,  churches,  and  tithes.] 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  dux  Normannise  et  Aquitania;, 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  Willelmo,  Dei  gratia  Norwicensi 
episcopo,  et  Hugoni  comiti  de  Norfolcbia,  salutem. 
Mando  vobis,  et  prsecipio,  et  diligenter  precor,  quatinus 

i  1  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  268  (Rec.  Com.).  2  2  lb.  31 


256  PLAC1TA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

monachis  Gloueestriae  habere  Paciatis  omnes  terras  et 
ecclesias  el  decimas  ecclesiae  Sancti  Petri  Gloueestriae 
pertinentes,  quae  apud  vos  sunt,  ne  aliquid  in  partibus 
vestris  auxilii  vestri  vel  justitiae  penuria  amittant. 
Testibus  eomite  Herefordiae  e1  Manaser  Biseth  apud 
Gloucestriam. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]1 

[The  king's  writ  directing  protection   of  the  abbot  and   monks  of 
Gloucester  in  the  possession  of  a  fishery  at  l>. 

Henricus,  rex  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniae  et  AquitanisBj 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  R.  comiti  Herefordiae  et  omnibus 
ministris  suis  Gloueestriae  et  Herefordiae,  salutem. 
Praecipio  quod  permittatis  abbatem  et  monachos  Glou- 
eestriae facere  et  habere,  bene,  et  in  pace,  et  juste, 
piscariam  suam  de  Bramptona  in  eodem  loco  ubi  f'uit 
tempore  regis  Henrici  avi  mei ;  nee  hide  eos  disturbetis, 
nee  aliquam  eis  injuriam  vel  contumeliam  Paciatis. 
Teste  Reginaldo  eomite  Comubise  apud  Notingham. 


[Abbot  and  Monks  of  Gloucester.]8 

The  king's  writ  directing    protection  of  the  abbot  and  monks  of 
•  Houcester  in  their  liberties.] 

Henricus,  res  Angliae,  et  dux  Normanniaeet  AquitaniaBj 
et  comes  Andegaviae,  vicecomiti  de  Herefordsyraj  salu- 
tem.    Praecipio  quod  juste  deducas  abbatem  et  monachos 

1  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  73  (Rec  Com.).  2  Jb.L'17. 


HENRY    II.  257 

Gloucestriae  de  una  hyda  terra)  dc  la  Hyde  quam  tenent. 
Et  prohibeo  ne  ipsi  inde  injuste  vexentur,  vel  in  placitum 
ponantur,  aut  in  aliquas  consuetudines  quas  facere  non 
solebant  tempore  regis  Henrici  avi  mei.  Et  nisi  feceris, 
justitia  mea  faciat,  ne  amplius  iude  clamorem  audiam 
pro  penuria  recti.  Teste  Widone  decano  apud  Glouces- 
triam. 


[Monks  and  Men  of  Gloucester.     1154 — 1164.]  ' 

The  king's  writ  directing  that  the  monks  of  Gloucester  and  their  men 
be  exempt  from  toll,  customs,  and  passage.] 

Henricus,  rex  Anglise,  et  dux  Normannise  et  Aqui- 
tannise,  et  comes  Andegavise,  justiciariis,  vicecomitibus, 
et  ministris  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem.  Praecipio 
quod  monachi  Gloucestriae  et  proprii  homines  eorum 
sint  quieti,  ubicunque  transfretaverint,  vel  fuerint,  in 
terra  mea,  et  victus,  et  corredium,  et  res  ubicunque 
emerint  vel  vendiderint  ad  opus  suum  proprium,  ab 
omni  theloneo,  et  consuetudine,  et  passagio.  Et  pro- 
hibeo ne  quis  eos  disturbet  super  decern  libras  foris- 
facturse.     Teste  Thoma  cancellario  apud  Gloucestriam. 


[Monks  op  Gloucester.     1154 — 1164.]2 

[The  king's  writ  exempting  lands  from  certain  dues-] 
Henricus,   rex  Anglia^  et  dux  Normannia)    et    Aqui- 

i  2  Chron.  Mon.  Glouc.  133  (Kec.  Com.).  2  lb. 

S 


:-">s  PLACITA    ANCLO-NOl!  MANX1CA. 

tannise,  et  comes  Andegaviae,  vicecomitibus  suis  et 
ministris,  salutem.  Pnccipio  quod  tota  terra  mona- 
chorum  Gloucestriae  sit  libera  et  quieta  de  cariagio  meo, 
et  summagio,  et  conductu,  et  omnibus  operationibus 
meis.     Teste  Thoma  cancellario. 


[Rainald  /■.  Abbot  of  Gloucester.]1 

[Offer  of  proof  by  the  earl  of  Hereford,  in  favour  of  the  defendant 
as  to  laud  at  K.J 

Henrico,  regi  Angliae,  duci  Normanniao  et  Aquitania,', 
et  comiti  Andegavise,  domino  suo  carissimo,  Rogerus 
comes  Herefordia.1,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  ego,  et  totum 
hundredum  in  quo  est  terra  de  Rugge,  quam  Rainaldus 
de  Sancto  Walarico  calumniatur  versus  abbatem  Glou- 
cestria?,  testificamur,  et  probare  parati  sum  us,  ubi  et 
quando  vobis  placuerit,  et  sicut  justum  fuerit,  eandem 
terram  esse  membrum  villse  de  Stanedis,  quae  est  de 
abbatia  GloucestriaB,  et  respondisse  semper  ab  autiquo 
de  consuetudinibus  regalibus  sicut  membrum  ejusdem 
villse.  Unde  juste  videtur,  si  vobis  placet,  ut  idem 
abbas  habeat  hide  curiam  suam,  vel  placitum  ante 
justitiam  vestram  sit  in  provincia,  ubi  rei  Veritas  poterit 
inquiri  per  comitatum.     Valete. 

[The  above  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  return  of  an  inquisition, 
but  is  to  be  considered  as  a  mere  petition,  upon  assertion  and  offer  of 
proof. 

The  following  record  of  an  inquisition  of  the  reign  of  Henry  III. 
shows  the  nature  of  such  a  proceeding: — ]  2 

Gilbertus  de  Clare,  comes  Gloucestriae  et  Herefordise, 
i  -l  Ohron.  Won.  Glouc  98    Rec.  Com.).  [b.  26. 


IlKXRY    [I.  :2."/.i 

dilecto  et  ficleli  suo  Galfrido  de  Mores  senescallo  honoris 
Gloucestriae,  salutem.  Mandamus  vobis,  quod  per  liberos 
el  legales  homines  de  foresta  nostra  de  Cors  diligenter 
inquiratis  utruni  abbas  Gloucester  sectam  cuiisuevit 
facere  ad  curiam  nostram  de  Wodeleyestile  pro  tene- 
mento  suo  de  Mayesmore  tempore  borne  memoriae  R.  de 
Clare  quondam  patris  nostri,  et  utrum  canes  dicti  abbatis 
et  hommum  suorum  de  Mayesmore,  Hardepire,  et 
Ledene,  solebant  expeditari,  et  si  dictus  abbas  capere 
poterit  temporibus  retroactis  quod  voluerat  de  bosco 
dictorum  maneriorurn  suorum  absque  visu  ballivorum 
nostrorum;  et  quid  hide  inveneritis  nobis  sub  sigillo 
vestro  et  sigillis  eorum  per  quos  facta  fuerit  inquisitio 
constare  faciatis. 

[Return:]  Inquisitio  facta  in  plena  curia  de  Cors,  coram 
Galfrido  de  Mores  senescallo,  die  sabbati  proxima  ante 
clausum  Paschse,  anno  quinquagesimo  secundo  [regis 
Henrici  III.]  de  secta  abbatis  Gloucestriae,  et  de  ex- 
peditatione  canum  suorum  et  tenentium  suorum,  per 
sacramentum  Henrici  de  Cors,  Walteri  de  Marisco, 
Roberti  Roscelyn,  Ricardi  Thoky,  et  cseterorum,  qui 
dicunt  per  sacramentum  suum  quod  abbas  Gloucestrise 
nunquam  consuevit  facere  sectam  ad  curiam  de  Wode- 
leyestile pro  tenemento  suo  de  Mayesmore  tempore  bona? 
memorise  R.  de  Clare  patris  Gilberti  de  Clare  nunc 
comitis,  nee  canes  dicti  abbatis,  nee  hominum  suorum  de 
Mayesmore,  de  Hardepire,  de  Ledene,  non  solebant 
expeditari  temporibus  retroactis.  Et  dictus  abbas  capere 
potuit  temporibus  retroactis  quod  voluerat  de  boscis 
dictorum  maneriorurn  suorum  absque  visu  ballivorum 
domini  comitis. 


s  2 


260  im.utia    wcr.o-noumaxnica. 

[Case  of  Ailward.]  ' 

[Ailward  breaks  into  a  neighbour's  house,  in  the  owner's  absence,  to 
collect  payment  of  a  tlebt.  Being  discovered,  he  flees,  and  is 
caught  by  his  debtor  and  bound  as  a  "fur  manifestos."  The 
amount  of  the  debt  being  small,  the  debtor,  on  suggestion  of  a 
public  accuser  or  summoner,  named  Fulc,  adds  other  criminal 
charges,  so  as  to  subject  the  defendant  to  mutilation.  After 
imprisonment  for  a  considerable  time  before  judgment,  he  is 
finally  adjudged  to  undergo  the  ordeal  of  water.  lie  is  convicted 
and  mutilated.] 

Aii.wAitDo  vicinus   tenebatur   in    nummo ;    quem   cum 
repeteret,  et   ille   solvere  recusaret,  mc-tus  ira   domum 
debitoris,  quam  sera  exterius  dependente  ad  tabernam 
digressus    obfirmaverat,    irrumpens,     seram    in    pignus 
avulsit,  arreptaque  simul  cote  apposita  tecto  caste,  cum 
terebro  chirothecisque,  discessit.     Nuntiatum  est  autem 
a  pueris,  qui  infra  domum  ludebant  inclusi,  patrifami- 
lias,  quia  confracta  domo,  supelleetilique  direpta,  raptor 
abscederet.     Qui  insecutus  eum  comprehendit,  et  cotem 
a    maim  bajulantis  extorquens    caput  vulneravit.     Ex- 
tractoque    cultello    brachium    transfig-ens,    eum    quasi 
furem  manifestum  cum  concepto  furto  reductum  ligavit 
in    domo    quam    freg-erat.      Concurrente    autem    turba, 
cum  apparitore   Fulcone,   quia  res  furtiva   pretii  unius 
nummi    hominem    non  mutilat,  sug-gestum  est  ab  ap- 
paritore ut  furtum  rebus  aliis,  quasi  furtivis,  aug-eret ; 
quod  et  factum  est.     Posita  est  itaque  juxta  ligatum 
sarcinula  pellium,  laonae,  lintei,  toga?,  cum  ferramento 
quod    volgonium    vulgus     appellat.      Postera    die    ad 
cognitionem  Ricardi  cujusdam  vicecomitis  militumque 
eomitatus    cum  prsedicta  sarcinula  ductus  est,    quae  et 
collo  ejus  appensa  est.     Ne  autem  de  re  dubia  praecipi- 


1    Miracula    S.   Tlionw,    156    (Rec.    Com.   Materials    for    history  of 
archb.  Beck 


HENRY    II.  261 

taretur  sentential  in  publica  custodia  Bedeford  suspenso 
judicio  per  mensem  tentns  est.  .  .  .  Factum  est  autem 
ut  convenientibus  ad  vicum  Legtune  magistratibus  reus 
eo  ducaretur.  Ubi  cum  impetitore  suo  Fulcone  mono- 
machiam  inh-e  aut  judicium  ignis  subire  postulavit; 
sed  annuente  Fulcone  apparitore,  qui  ob  id  ipsum 
bovum  acceperat,  judicio  aquas  adjudicatus  est,  ne  quoquo 
modo  evadere  posset.  Inde  Bedeford  reductus,  in  car- 
cere  mensem  exegit.  Quo  convenientibus  judicibus, 
cum  judicio  aquae  traderetur  examinandus,  damnationis 
suse  tristem  excepit  sententiam,  eductusque  ad  locum 
supplicii,oculis  effossis  et  virilibus  abscisis  mutilatus  est, 
qua?  multitudine  vidente  plebis  terras  infossa  sunt. 

The   chronicler   proceeds   to   relate    the   miraculous   recovery   of 
Aihvard  through  the  intervention  of  St.  Thomas  (a  Becket). 


[Abbot  William  v.  John,  the  Mercer,  and  Richard, 
Son  of  Edith.]  ' 

[The  plaintiff  claims  a  curtilage  in  London  by  grant  of  W.,  alleging 
that  it  had  been  illegally  occupied  by  the  defendants.  The 
king's  writ  directs  that  the  question  be  decided  by  inquisition. 
The  defendants,  summoned  thrice  to  the  Court  of  Hustings,  make 
default,  and  the  plaintiff  recovers  by  the  finding  of  fourteen 
men.] 

Gualerannus  films  Ranulfi  dedit  Deo  et  ecclesiae  Sancti 
Stephani  de  Cadomo,  unam  mansionem  terras  infra  Lon- 
doniam,  quae  fuit  Liefredi  Angli,  sitam  in  Wodestrata, 
prope  ecclesiam  Sancti  Petri,  quietam  de  gelt  et  de  escot 
et  de  omni  alia  consuetudine,  quam  Guarinus  Buclierell 

1  1    Palgrave,    Commonwealth,    181.     From   a   Chartulary  of  t!ic 
Abbey  of  Caen. 


202  PLAC1TA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

et  haeredes  sui,  longo  tempore  de  praedicto  Sancto 
phano  tenuerunt.  Verumtamen  in  diebus  eorum, 
quaedam  pars  terras  praedictae  mansionis,  subtracta  fuit 
el  separata  cum  dolo.  Johannes  autem  filius  Nicholai, 
mercennarius  de  Londonia  hanc  praedictam  terrain  de 
mansion e  Sancti  Stephani  separatam  atque  subtractam, 
quae  latitudinem  duodecim  pedum  habet  in  fronte, 
liberavit  Ricardo  Alio  Edithae  quasi  ad  feodalem 
firmam,  in  tempore  persecutions  quae  fuit  sub  rege 
Stepbano.  Quo  mortuo,  Henricus  dux  Normanniae  et 
Aquitaniae,  regnum  Angliae,  Deo  annuente,  adeptus  est, 
qui  a  Deo  constitutus  est  rex  gloriosus  et  fortis.  Sub 
quo,  Willielmus  abbas  rexit  Cadumensem  ecclesiam. 
Qui  audiens  hanc  divisionem  factam,  illo  nesciente,  de 
terra  Sancti  Stephani,  venit  Londoniam,  cum  scriptis  et 
munitionibus  regis  Henrici,  ad  comitem  Legecestriae  et 
Umfredum  Bocointa-j  vicecomitem  Londoniae.  Quibus 
rex  Henricus  mandabat,  quod  ipsi,  de  civibus  civitatis 
Londoniae  veritatem  audirent,  consilio  Hustingi,  per 
sacramenta  legalium  hominum,  de  terra  Sancti  Ste- 
phani  de  Cadomo;  vocatisque  illis  qui  terram  tenuerant, 
si  venirent  ...  si  venire  nolucrint,  veritatem  audirent. 
Qui  audientes  mandatum  regis,  miserunt  primo  et 
secundo  usque  ad  tertium,  ad  Johannem  et  Ricardum 
qui  terram  tenuerant,  quod  venirent  in  Hustingo  audire 
mandatum  regis,  et  veritatem  et  judicium,  de  terra 
Sancti  Stepbanij  quam  tenuerant  ;  <|iii  divertentes, 
neque  ad  primum,  neque  ad  secundum,  neque  ad  tertium 
venerunt  Hustingum.  Justicia  vero  et  qui  aderant,  hoc 
videnteSj  fecerunt  mandatum  regis.  El  per  commune 
consilium  de  Hustingo  secundum  praeceptum  regis,  ele- 
gerunt  quatuordecim  viros  de  civibus  civitatis  Londoniae 
qui    juraverunt.     Et    per    sacramentum    ct   per   recor- 


UKNIiY    II.  263 

dacionem  juramenti  eorum,  Sanetus  Stephanus  habuil 
totam  suam  mansionem  cum  prsedicta  parte,  lata 
duodecim  pedum,  quam  Johannes  et  Ricardus  filius 
Edithse  tenuerant.  Usee  sunt  nomina  illorum  qui 
juraverunl  in  Hustingo,  di visum  de  terra  Sancti  Ste- 
phani,  quae  est  in  Lundoniam  in  Wodestreta.  Martinus 
cartarius,  Odo  corduannrius,  Terricus  Bolloc,  Serlo  de 
Cadomo,  Willielmus  Toyri,  Stephanus  mercennarius, 
Eng-elramus  Cobba,  Albertus  Loremarius,  Nicholaus 
Lefranceis,  Rainerus  Wardus,  Albrieus  de  Domo  Petri, 
Willielmus  Garlec,  Johannes  Toyri,  Radulphus  frater 
Hervici. 

Isti  quatuor,  Martinus,  Odo,  Terricus,  et  Serlo,  jura- 
verunt  ;  reliquos  vero  decern,  quietavit  Willielmus 
abbas,  qui  parati  erant  jurare. 

Et  base  sunt  nomina  eorum,  in  quorum  praesentia 
juraverunt.  Umfredus  Bocointa,  vicecomes  Londonias, 
Geufridus  frater  ejus,  Willielmus  filius  Ailwardi,  hal- 
derman ;  Robertus  Pulcher,  halderman ;  Fromundus, 
halderman  ;  Henricus  filius  Ailwini,1  halderman;  Petrus 
filius  Walteri,  halderman ;  Willielmus,  camerarius, 
Robertus  filius  ejus,  Johannes  Bocointa,  Geufridus 
Bocointa,  Radulfus  de  Wrodestreta,  Symond  de  Haver- 
hulla,  Petrus  filius  Alveredi  de  Windesora,  Petrus  filius 
Meillesme,  Hervicus  de  Torreneio,  Robertus  Neulerius, 
Geufridus  aurifaber  filius  Willielmi,  Everardus  frater 
ejus,  Willielmus  de  Ely,  Willielmus  de  Rothomag-o, 
Rainerius  de  Valentiis.  Et  ex  parte  abbatis  sunt  hii 
testes.  Rog-erius  de  Montenneio,  Willielmus  Manchon, 
Geufridus  camerarius,  Ricardus  de  Dovra  filius  Rainnldi, 
Haymeric  filius  Quintini,  Johannes  filius  Geroldi, 
Eustachius  de  Ros. 

1  Henry  Fitz  Ailwin,  the  first  lord  mayor  of  London. 


264  placita  anglo-normannica. 

[Monks  of  Buildewas  v.  Men  of  Sheriff  of  Salop.]  ' 

[The  king's  writ  ordering  the  sheriff  and  bailiffs  of  Salop  to  compel 
their  men  to  restore  the  manor  of  L.  to  the  plaintiffs.] 

H.  rex  Angliae  et  dux  Normanniae  et  Aquitaniae  et 
comes  Andegaviae  vicecomiti  et  baillivis  suis  de  Salope- 
sira  salutem.  Praecipio  vobis  quod  justicietis  homines 
qui  sunt  in  bailliva  vestra,  quod  ipsi  juste  et  sine 
dilatione  reddant  monacliis  de  Bildewas  Lecheshambre 
quod  Ricardus  episcopus  Coventriensis  eis  dedit  et  carta 
sua  confirmavit  sicut  reddere  solebant  tempore  regis 
Henrici  avi  mei.  Teste  Gaufrido  arcbidiacono  Cantua- 
riensi.     Apud  Lichesf. 


CONCORDS. 

[Philip  of  Mattesdon  v.  Abbot  Hamlin.     1158.]  ' 

Sciant  praesentes  et  f'uturi,  quod  loquela  quae  fuerat 
inter  Hamelinum  abbatem  Gloucestria?  et  Philippum  de 
Mattesdone  super  terra  de  Burifende  utriusque  partis 
assensu  finita  est  in  hunc  modum,  quod  Philippus,  pro  se 
et  suis  hseredibus,  decern  acras  terra?  in  cultura  quae 
dicitur  Wydebosme,  et  duas  acras  prati  in  Suthmcde, 
totamque  dimisit  inperpetuum,  et  quietam  clamavit 
quam  adversus  ecclesiaiu  (Jloucestriae  calumniam  de  hac, 
et  de  aliis  quibuscunque  rebus  liabuerat.  Abbas  autem 
t!  conventus  reliquam  partem  ipsius  terrao^  quam  ante 
Philippus  sine  ipsorum  concessione  tenuerat,  concesserunt 

•  5  Monasticon,  358  (1846). 

-  2  Cliron.  Mon.  Glouc.  180  (Rec  Coin.)- 


HENRY    II.  265 

ei;  tenendam  haereditario  jure  sub  tali  servitio,  quod 
ipse  Philippus,  et  hseredes  ejus  post  ipsum,  equis  propriis 
et  sumptibus,  ecclesiae  tria  sevvitia  faeient  per  annum 
intra  regnum  Anglia?,  ubi  necesse  fuerit  parati ;  et  ad 
alias  ecclesias  necessitates,  sicut  alii  ejus  liberi  homines. 
Hujus  vero  rei  gratia,  facto  prius  homagio  abbati,  et 
jurata  fidelitate  ecclesise  et  monachis  in  capitulo,  con- 
cessam  ex  utraque  parte  conventionem  banc,  Philippus 
postea,  manu  propria,  altare  Sancti  Petri  superposita 
roboravit,  anno  ab  Incarnatione  Domini  millesimo 
CLVIII.,  XI.  kalendas  Martii. 

Hiis  interfuerunt  tarn  in  capitulo  quam  in  ecclesia, 
Alexander  Pincerna,  Radulphus  frater  Philippi,  Herbertus 
janitor,  Morinus  dispensator,  Rogerus  Baselei,  Galf'ridus 
Gernon,  Willelmus  de  Muntric,  Johannes  de  Mareis, 
Robertus  de  Herefordia,  Rainaldus  cocus,  Cadmor  et 
Godefridus,  et  Rogerus  Burel  et  alii. 

This  fine  is  twenty  years  older  than  the  one  given  by  Mr.  Hunter 
as  the  earliest  fine  of  lands  which  he  had  seen.  Fines,  Pref.  p.  x. 
But  in  the  form  of  concords,  fines  were  common  throughout  the 
Anglo-Saxon  and  Norman  periods. 


[William  Rufus  v.  Richaud,  a  Priest.]  [ 

i  I  i:c  conventio  facta  est  inter  Ricardum  sacerdotum  de 
Wellewa,  et  Willelmum  Ruffum,fratrem  suum,  in  prsesen- 
tia  domini  sua  venerabilis  abbatis  Hamclini,  et  ejus  con- 
ventus  Gloucestrise ;  de  quadam  hyda  quam  praedictus 
Ricardus  tenet  de  abbate  praxlicto  in  Aldesworthe,  quam 
pra?dictus  Willelmus  calumniatus  fuit  erga  ipsum  Ricar- 

1   1  Chron.  Muu.  Glouc.  155  (Kec.  Com.). 


2()G  PLACITA    AXCEO-NORMANNICA. 

dum  j  pro  qua  calumnia  Ricardus  dedit  Willelmo  prsedicto 
medietatem  marcae  argenti,  et  mediam  virgatam  terrse, 
eodem  servitio  quo  ipse  Ricardus  totam  hydam  deservit 
apud  dominum  prsedictum,  quantum  ad  tenuram  prsedicti 
Willelmi  perti.net.  Hanc  conventioncm  tenendam,  AVil- 
lelmus  Ruffus  prsedictus  affirmavit,  et  Reginaldus  filius 
suus,  tactis  evangeliis  sacramento,  quod  ipsi,  neque 
haeredes  illorum  de  haereditate  qu.se  fuit  Rodrici  de 
Aldesworthe  apud  Ricardum  praedictum,  nee  haeredes 
suos,  arte,  nee  ingenio/  amplius  non  peterent.  Hoc 
autem  est  apud  Gloucestriam.  Hiis  testibus.  [Names 
not  given.] 


[  W  11.1. iam  of  Berkeley  v.  Abbot  Thomas.     1182]1 

II. ec  est  finalis  concordia  facta  inter  Thomam  abbatem 
et  conventum  Sancti  Petri  Gloucestrise  et  Willelmum  de 
Berkelay  de  pastura  quam  idem  Willelmus  clamabal 
adversus  praedictos  abbatem  et  monachos  in  bosco  de 
parva  Cuthberleya. 

Con ven it  inter  cos,  coram  justiciariis  domini  regis, 
videlicet  Thoma  filio  Bernardi,  Alanode  Furnellej  Roberto 
de  Wythefelde,  et  coram  Willelmo  filio  Stephani  tunc 
vicecomite,  anno  ab  Incarnatione  Domini  millesimo 
cestesimo  octogesimo  secundo,  mense  MartiOj  apud 
Gloucestrianij  praesente  comitatu  de  Gloueestria,  quod 
praenominatus  Willelmus,  pro  quatuor  marcis  argenti, 
renunciavil  toti  juri  suo  quod  elamaverat  in  prsedicto 
bosco.     El  ul  certior  fierel  hsec  convent  in  et   frrmior  in 

i  1  Chron.  Won.  Glouo.  234  (Rec.  Com.). 


IIKXKY     II.  267 

lutuvum,  earn  praesenti  scripto  annotatam  posteriorum 
memorise  reservavevunt.  Super  hoe  eiiam  ne  jam  ssepe- 
dictus  Willelmus  vel  aliquis  suorum  adversus  abbatiam 
Sancti  Petri  possit  hanc  calumniam  invocare,  cyrogra- 
pbum  scripti  inter  se  diviserunt,  appenso  sigillo  Willelmi 
tilii  Stephani  vicecomitis  illi  parti  cyrographi  quam 
abbas  et  monachi  penes  se  retinuerunt,  et  sigillo  ejusdem 
Willelmi  de  Berkeleye  ad  perpetuum  hujus  conventionis 
muni  men. 


[Juliana  and  Robert  v.  Prior  and  Monks  of 
Roffa.      118:2.]' 

ILt.c  est  finalis  concordia  facta  in  curia  domini  regis 
apud  Westmonasterium  ad  Scaccarium,  in  festo  Sancti 
Michaelis  anno  vicesimo  nono  regni  regis  Henrici  secundi 
die  dominica  proxima  ante  festum  Omnium  Sanctorum, 
coram  R.  Wintoniensi,  et  G.  Eliensi,  et  J.  Norwicensi, 
episcopis,  et  Godefrido  de  Luc}T,  et  Ricardo  thesaurario, 
et  Rogero  filio  Remfridi,  et  Willelmo  Basset,  et  Rannulfo 
de  Geddyng,  et  Roberto  do  Wytefeld,  et  Michaele  Belet, 
et  aliis  baronibus  domini  regis  ibi  tunc  pra?senti!>us  ; 
inter  priorem  et  monachos  de  Roffa,  et  Julian  am  filiam 
Fulconis  de  Newebam  et  Robertum  de  Champeynes 
filium  ipsius  Juliana?,  de  advocatione  ecclesia3  de  Nortli- 
tonc ;  unde  recognitio  summonita  fuit  inter  eos  in  curia 
domini  regis;  scilicet  quod  prsedicta  Juliana  et  Robertus 
iilius  suus  dederunt  et  concesserunt  prsedicto  priori  et 
monacbis  advocationem  prsedictse  ecclesiae  de  Northtone, 
et  concesserunt  advocationem  quam  Fulco  pater  prsedictse 
Julianse  eis  fecit  de  prsefata  ecclesia. 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  57  (fol.  cd.  I. 


268  PLACITA    AXGLO-XOKMAXXKA. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  EXCHEQUER. 

[Robert  de  Ross.     6  Hen.  II.]  ' 

Robertus  de  Ross  debet  D.  et  XXXIII.  1.  et  VI.  s.  et 
Villi,  d.  Seel  sunt  in  respectu  donee  rex  redeat  in 
Angliam;  per  breve  regis  de  ultra  mare. 


[Fugitives.     12  Hen.  II.]* 
Idem  viceeomes  reddit  compotum  de  catallis  fugitivo- 
l'um  et  eorum  qui  perierunt  in  judicio  aquae. 


[Adam  Son  of  Aluric.     12  Hen.  II.]3 

Adam  filius  Alurici  reddit  compotum  de  C.  marcis,  ut 
habeat  recordum  curiae  regis  de  placito  inter  ipsum  et 
Agnetem  de  Ribure. 


[Hugh  de  Kirketon.    12  Hen.  II.]4 

Hugo  de  Kirketon  debet  I.  maream,  quia  absentavit  se 
de  duello. 


[William  de  Ottrinkeiiam.     12  Hen.  II.] s 

Willelmusde  Ottrinkeiiam  debet  II.  marcas,  prodefectu 
prosequendi  loquelam  suam. 

1  Madera,  Bist.  Exoh.  58  (fol.  ed.).  a  ll».  235.  3  lb.  296. 

'  lb.  382.  s  lb.  383. 


HENRY    II.  269 

[Bruford.     14  Hen.  II.]  ■ 

Bruford  reddidit  compotum  de  X.  marcis,  pro  receptione 
cujusdam  utlagati  celata  et  postea  recognita ;  in  perdonis, 
per  breve  Ricardi  de  Luci  per  breve  regis  de  ultra  mare, 
Hugoni  de  Laci  X.  marcae,  ct  quietus  est. 


[Robert,  de  Hasting.     14  Hen.  II.]2 

Robertus  de  Hasting  reddit  compotum  de  C.  et  VI.  s. 

etVIII.  d.,  ut  plaeitum  quod  fuit  inter  eum  et  Radulfum 

Moiii  differatur  usque  ad  Scaccarium. 

The  following  like  entry  appears  of  the  next  year: — "Robertus 
do  Hasting  reddit  compotum  de  LIIII.  s.  et  IIII.  d.,  ut  plaeitum  quod 
fuit  inter  eum  et  Radulfum  Moin  differatur  usque  ad  Scacca- 
rium." 


[Reimund  de  Baldac.     14  Hen.  II.]  3 
Reimundus  de  Baldac  debet  XX.  marcas,  pro  appella- 
tione  Walteri  probatoris  de  falsonaria. 


[Ralph  de  Ferrariis.    14  Hen.  II.] 4 
Radulfus  de  Ferrariis  debet  X.  marcas,  pro  festinando 
judicio  suo  de  Rieardo   Fabro,  qui  eum  et  homines  suos 
appellavit  de  cervo  quem  eos  capere  vidit,  et  postea  se 
inde  retraxit. 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  58  (fol.  ed.).  "  lb.  1  12. 

••'  lb.  296.  *  Tb.  308. 


270  ii.Acn  \  alNGlo-normannica. 

[Michael  de  Spikeswick.     14-  Hen.  II.] ' 

Michael  de  Spikeswic  reddit  compotum  de  XL.  sv  quia 
nun  habuit  homiuem  coram  justicia  quem  plegiaverat. 


[Walter  Palmer.     14  Hen.  II.]- 

Walterus  Palmer  debet   XX.  marcas,  quia   plegiavif 

Willelmum  Walwein,  et  non  habuit  coram  justicia. 


[Siiektbury  Hundred.     14  Hen.  II.] 3 

Idem  vicecomes  reddit  compotum  de  VIII.  1.,  de  Sheft- 
bera  hundredo,  et  Blachetoriton,  et  Framiton,  pro  falso 
judicio  duelli. 


[Roger  de  Eir.     14  Hen.  II.]4 
Rogerus  de  Eir  reddit  compotum  de  dimidia   marca, 
quia  noluit  respondere  in  curia   decani  de  Waltham,  ad 
breve  regis  quod  non  videbat  sigillatum. 


[Hugh  Bardul.     16  Hen.  II.] 6 
Hugo  Bardul  reddit  compotum  de  X.  marcis  pro  re- 
spectu  de  recognitione  inter  cum  et  Jbhannem   Burdun 
usque  ad  Scaccarium.     In  thesauro  V.  marcas,  et  debel 
V.  marcas. 

'   Madox,  Hi, i.  Exch.  385  (fol.  ed.)  '   Lb.  6  Cb.  386. 

•   II,  i    II,.  1  \2. 


BENKY    II.  271 

[SwETMAN  KEMPE.       10    HEN.  II.]1 

S  wet  man  Kempe  debet  dimidiam  marcam,  quia  reces- 
sit  a  curia  regis  sine  liceniia. 


[Walter  Son  op  Amfr.     17  Hen.  II.]2 
Walter  filius   Amfr.   reddit   compotum   de  V.  marcis, 
pro    recognitione    eomitatus    habenda   de  terra  de   Ra- 
peston. 


[JOSLIN  OP  HOCTON.       17    HEN.  II.]  ' 

Joslenus  de  Hocton  reddit  compotum  de  XX.  s.;  quia 
imposuit  falsum  crimen  mortis  Osberto  Luvel,  et  uon 
habuit  warrantum. 


[Robert  Son  op  Ernisus.     18  Hen.  II.]4 
Robertus  filius  Ernisi  debet  V.  mareas,  ut  placitum 
quod  est  inter  ipsum  et  Hugonem  Malebisse  sit  coram 
justicia  ad  Scaecarium. 


[Ralph,  the  Cook.     18  Hen.  II.] 5 
Radulfus   cocus  reddit  compotum  de  C.  1.,  quia  primo 
negavit  quod  nichil  habuerat  de  catallis  abbatis  de  Hida 
et  postea  recognovit.     Henricus  Buba  reddit  compotum 
de  XIII.  1.  et  VI.  s.  et  VIII.  d.  pro  eodem. 

'    Madox,  Hist.  Excli.  383  (fol.  ed.).  -  lb.  296.  s  lb.  388. 

4  lb.  II:.'  s  lb.  389. 


:Z7i  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[Dean  of  Wells.     IS  Hex.  II.]1 

Decanus  de  Well,  reddit  compotum  de  IIII.  marcis, 
pro  serviente  regis,  quem  misit  in  carcerem;  in  thesauro 
II.  marcas,  et  debet  II.  marcas. 


[William  Basset.     19  Hen.  II.]- 
William  Basset  debet  C.  marcas,  pro  fine  quem  fecit 
cum  rege  de  jurata  facta  super  cum,  de  inquisitione  vice- 
comitum  Anglia^,  per  Walterum  de  Insula  et  Eustachium 
filium  Stephani. 


[Robert  de  Luci.     21  Hen.  II.]3 

Idem  vicecomes  [Robertus  de  Luci]  reddit  compotum 
de  I  IT.  marcis  et  dimidia,  de  Philippo  filio  Wiard  et 
V.  aliis,  pro  ferro  juisre  bis  portato  de  I.  calefactione  ;  in 
thesauro  1.,  in  VI.  talliis,  et  quietus  est. 


[William  Gernuns  et  al.     22  Hen.  II.] 4 

De  placitis  Willclmi  filii  Radulfi,  et  Bertram  de 
Verdun,  et  Willelmi  Basset,  in  curia  regis  :  Willelmus 
as  Gernuns  reddit  compotum  de  X.  marcis  et  I.  accipitre 

'  Madox,  Hist .  Exch   389  (fol.  e<L).  2  lb.  97. 

379.  '  lb.  71. 


HENRY    TI.  27'5 

Norr.,  quia  incarceravit  Gamel  de  Everwich  ;  in  thesauro 
X.  marcas,  et  debet  I.  accipitrem  Norr.  Comitatus 
Eboraci  reddit  compotum  de  C.  I.,  pro  recordo  duclli 
inter  Simonem  Ie  Bret  et  Radulfum  de  Rugemunt 
Canonici  de  Eboraco  reddunt  compotum  de  C.  I.,  quia 
non  venerunt  ad  summonitionem  regis  ad  Eboracum  ; 
in  thesauro  liberaverunt,  et  quieti  sunt.  Walterus  de 
Nevill  reddit  compotum  de  XX.  sv  pro  licentio  concor- 
dandi  cum  Willelmo  filio  Fulch.  ;  in  thesauro  liberavit, 
et  quietus  est. 


[Raxulf  de  Glanvill.     22  Hex.  II.] ' 

Idem  [Ranulphus  de  Glanvill]  reddit  compotum  de 
X.  marcis,  de  Willelmo  de  Levertona,  ut  plaeitaret 
saisitus  de  terra  sua. 


[Richard  del  Lech.     22  Hen.  II.]2 

Ricardus   del  Lech  reddit  compotum  de  V.  marcis,  ut 
placitet  saisitus  de  terra  sua. 


[William,  Sox  of  Sturus.     22  Hen.  II.] 3 

Willelmus  filius   Sturi  debet  X.  marcas,  pro  reeogni- 
tione  quam  habuit  de  terra  de  Teivilla  in  Normannia. 

i  Madox,  Hi.-t.  Exch.  297  (fol.  cd.).  2  lb.  3  lb. 

T 


■11  I  I'l  w  11  A    ANG1  0-NORMANNICA. 

[Walter  le  Taverner.     :l:l  Hen.  II.]1 
Walterus  le  Taverner  debet   dimidiam  marcam,  quia 
lion  levavit  clamorem  do  interfecto  in  domo  sua. 


[Henry  de  Pirariis.  28  Hen.  II.} a 
Do  placitis  ad  Seaccarium  :  Henricusde  Pirariis  reddit 
eompotum  de  V.  marcis  pro  deferatione  appellationis. 
Willelmus  filius  Ailrici  ot  Hascuil  et  Galfridus  frater 
ejus  reddunt  eompotum  do  dimidia  marca,  pro  dissaisina 
injusta  ;  in  thesauro  liberaverunt,  et  quieti  sunt.  Idem 
vieecomes  reddit  eompotum  do  Till.  1.  et  XIII.  s.  et 
1III.  d.,  de  minutis  misericordiis  hominum  quorum 
nomina  et  debifca  et  causae  annotantur  in  rotulo  quern 
liberaverunt  in  thesauro  :  in  thesauro  liberavit  in  X. 
talliis,  et  quietus  est. 


[William  de  Colevill.     23  Hen.  II.]8 
Willolinus  do  Colevill  reddit  eompotum  de  XX.  mar- 
cis, quia  retraxit  so  dv  assisa  versus  comitem  Simonem. 


[William,  Son  of  Ulger.     23  Hen.  11.]  ' 
De  placitis  el  conventionibus  curiae:   Willelmus  filius 
Ulgvrii  debet  C.  s.}  pro  habenda  recognitione  do  marita- 
gio  matris  sua?,  unde  dissaisita  fuit  tempore  werra?  sine 
judicio. 

1   Madox,  Hi  i.  Exch.  386  (fol.  ed.)  -  tb.  1  12. 

•   II,    1  l:i  i   II..  297. 


HENRY    II.  '275 

[Robert,  Son  of  Brienus.     21  Hen.  IT.]1 

Robertas  filius  Brieni  reddit   compotum  do  XX.  1.  pro 
quietantia  judicii  ferri. 


[Simon,  Son  of  Peter.     24  Hen.  II.]2 

De  placitis  Walteri  iilii  Roberti  et  sociorum  ejus : 
Simon  filius  Petri  de  Wigenhala  dobet  dimidiam  maream 
pro  blado  asportato  sine  licentia.  Rogeras  Passelewe  de 
Wigenhala  debet  dimidiam  maream  pro  eodem.  Aluredus 
de  Len  dobet  dimidiam  maream  pro  eodem.  Siwardus 
de  Len  debet  dimidiam  maream  pro  eodem. 


[Roger,  Son  of  Everard.     25  Hen.  II.]3 

De  placitis  ad  Scaccarium.  Idem  vicecomes  reddit 
compotum  de  I.  marca  do  Rogero  filio  Everardi  de  Sur- 
reia,  quia  non  habuit  warantum  suum  ;  et  de  I.  marca 
de  JEdwardo  filio  Roberti  pro  eodem. 


[VlLLATA   DE    ClIlLDON.       26  Hen.  II.]  4 

Et    [vicecomes  reddit  compotum]  de  XX.  s.  de  villata 

de  Childon,  quia  non  elamorem  nee  sectam  fecerunt  de 
morte  oceisi. 

Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  143  (fol.  ed.).  '-  lb.  387. 

»  lb.  L43.  '  lb.  386. 

t2 


'.  lb  PLACITA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

[Mauricius  de  Wadenhal.  :.7  Hen.  II.]  ' 
Mauricius  de  Wadenhal  debet  III.  marcas,  pro  habenda 
recognitione  de  I.  carrucata  terrae  in  Holewudede  saisina 
Henrici  avunculi  sui.  Willelmus  de  Haya  reddit  cora- 
potum  de  V.  marcis,  ut  inquiralur  per  legales  mulieres, 
si  Emma  de  Setuans  quae  dicitur  peperisse,  habere! 
puerum  annon.  Henricus  de  Mallinges  debet  XL.  s., 
pro  habenda  recognitione  de  morte  Willelmi  fratris,  de 
I  J.  jugis  terras. 


[Oger,  Son  of  Oger.  2S  Hen.  II.]' 
Ogerus  filius  Ogeri  reddit  compotum  de  dimidia  marca, 
pro  cyrographo  inrotulando  de  finali  concordia  quae  facta 
fiiit  in  curia  domini  regis  apud  Westmonasterium  in 
crastino  S.  Andreas,  anno  XXVIII.  regni  regis  Henrici 
secundi,  coram  El.  Wintoniensi  et  Galfrido  Elyensi  episco- 
pis,  et  Etannulfo  de  Glanvill  justiciario  domini  regis,  et 
Ricardo  thesaurio,  et  G.  de  Luci,  et  R.  filio  Renfridi,  et 
Michaele  Belet,  et  G.  de  Colevill,  et  R.  de  Geddingis,  et 
Gervasio  de  Cornhill,  et  Osberto  filio  Hervei,  et  aliis 
baronibus  et  justiciariis  domini  regis  il>i  tunc praesentibus, 
inter  Michaelem  lilium  Ogeri  et  Sarram  uxorem  snani, 
et  Ogerum  filium  Ogeri  et  Amiam  uxorem  suam,  de 
rationabili  parte  sua  quam  idem  M.  et  Sarra  exigebant 
versus  praedictum  O.  el  Amiam  uxorem  suam,  de  terra 
quam  Willelmus  de  Scheflega  pater  earundem  Sarra-  et 
Amiae  habuit,  unde  placitum  fuit  inter  eos  in  curia 
domini  regis,  scilicet  quod  idem  Ogerus  et  Amia  uxor 
sua    rcmiserunt    praedicto   Michaeli   et   Sarra1   uxori   suae 

1   Madox,  EiBt    Exuh.  297  (fol.  ed.).  a  [b.  77- 


HEXUY    II.  277 

totam  terrain  de  H-  •  •  •  cum  omnibus  pertinentiis,  et 
servicium  Hugonis  do  Culdecota.  Do  quibus  idem 
Michael  el  Sana  facient  servitium  feodi  unius  militis 
praedicto  Ogero  et  Amias,  et  ipsi  capitali  domino.  Et 
praeterea  remiserunt  praedicti  Og-erus  et  Amia  praedicto 
Michaeli  et  Sarrae  servitium  feodi  unius  militis,  quod 
Etadulfus  lilius  Mauritii  eis  debuit  de  Stutton  in  Sudfolch, 
et  XII.  solidatas  redditus  in  Selveston,  quos  prior  et 
monachi  S.  Marias  de  Luffeld  debuerunt  eis,  de  tene- 
mento  quod  de  eis  tenent.  Prsedicto  autem  Og-ero  et 
Amite  uxori  suae  remanet  tota  terra  de  Schelflega,  et  de 
Walton,  et  de  Lachebroch,  cum  omnibus  pertinentiis 
earundem  terrarum,  pro  LXVI.  1.  de  debito  Willelmi 
patris  earundem  Same  et  Amiaa,  quas  idem  Ogerus  et 
Amia  reddiderunt  Abrahae  Judaeo  Lundonia>;  et  X.  mar- 
cis  de  debito  ejusdem  quas  ipsi  reddiderunt  Willelmo  le 
Franceis,  et  VI.  [et]  XX.  marcis,  unde  ipsi  intraverunt  in 
debitum  versus  Willelmum  de  Mandevill  comitem  Essexa? 
pro  .  .  .  .'  terra1  praedietae  ;  unde  summa  est  CCXXIX. 
marcse.  In  thesauro  liberavit  dimidiam  marcam,  et 
quietus  est. 


[Benedict  the  Jew.     29  Hen.  II.] a 

Benedictus  Juda?us  de  Canluaria  reddit  compotum  de 
XX.  marcis,  quia  quaesivit  debitum  ad  opus  fratris  sui 
per  cartam  suam,  quod  ei  solutum  fuit.  Ysaac  Juda?us 
reddit  compotum  deXX.  marcis,  quia  negavit  quod  prius 
dixerat  in  curia  regis;  in  thesauro  V.  marcae,  et  in  opera- 
tione  praedictaV.  marcae,  per  praedictum  breve  et  per  visum 

1  Sic.  :  Madox,  llist.  Exch.  144  (fol.  ed.). 


278  I'l.ACITA    A.NGLO-NORMANNICA. 

prsedictorum,  el  debet  X.  marcas.  Jacob  el  Ysaac  de 
Cantuaria  debent  unam  marcam  auri,pro  habendo  debito 
quod  Folqueius  Folet  eis  debuit.  Ilobertus  de  Ilogstedc 
reddit  compotum  de  XX.  s.  pro  recto  versus  Henricum 
de  Shotnes,  de  tenemento  quod  idem  Henricus  tenet. 
Eustacliius  filius  Lefwini  de  Westg'ate  debet  unam  mar- 
c-am, pro  saisina  de  XV.  aeris  terrse  in  Westgate-hundre- 
do.  Simon  de  Chelfeld  reddit  compotum  de  1.  marca 
pro  licentia  concordandi  cum  Willelmo  de  Resebelle. 


[Simon  l»e  Medelwood.     31  Hen.  II.]1 

Simon  de  Medelwode debet  X.  marcas,  quia  placitavit 
in  curia  christianitatis  de  laico  feodo. 


[Pkiok  of  Worcester.     3]  Hen.  II.] 

Prior  de  Wirecestria   reddit  compotum  de  X.  marcis, 
quia  tenuit  placitum  de  laico  feodo  in  curia  christianitatis. 


[Philip  de  Kama.     31  Hen.  II.]3 

Philippus  de    Kvma   reddit    compotum    de    C.   s. 
loquela  inter  ipsum  el  Benedictum  fratrem  Aaron,  de  falsa 
cuppa,  differatur  usque  ad  Scaccarium  Pascha). 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch  3«l -   ll.     90  lb.  144 


RICHARD  I. 

[The  Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  and  Robert  de  Ulmo. 
Before  1191.]  ' 

[By  consent  of  the  parties,  the  l-ight  to  a  moiety  of  the  church  at  H. 
is  submitted  to  the  oath  of  sixteen  legal  men,  who  find  for  the 
abbot  of  St.  Edmund.] 

Vacante  medietate  ecclesie  de  Hopetuna,  mota  est 
controversia  inde  inter  abbatem  et  Robert um  de  Ulmo, 
positoque  die  eoncordie  apud  Hopetonam,  post  multas 
altercaciones  dixit  abbas  ad  predictum  R.,  nescio  quo 
impetu  animi  ductus  :  "  Tu  jura  in  propria  persona,  quod 
hoc  tuum  jus  est,  et  ego  concedo  quod  tuum  sit/'  Cum- 
que  miles  ille  renuisset  jurare,  delatum  est  juramentum 
per  consensum  utriusque  partis  se?decim  legalibus  de 
hundredo,  qui  juraverunt  boc  esse  jus  abbatis. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  v.  The  Jews.     1190.] 2 

[The  plaintiff  obtains  a  writ  of  the  king  ordering  that  the  Jews  in 
a  town  of  St.  Edmund  be  expelled,  on  condition  of  being  paid  for 
t In 'ir  houses  and  lands.  And  the  Jews  aregranted  by  the  king's 
justiciars  the  right  of  entertainment  for  two  days  and  nights  at 
St.  Edmund,  when  going  there  to  exact  payment  of  debts- 

Dominus  abbas  peciit  a  rege  litems  ut  judei  eicerentur 
Chron.  Joe  de  Brakel.  11  (Camden  Soc).  -  fb.  33- 


2SU  PLAC1TA   ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

villa  S;iiH'li  JEdinundi,  allegans  quod  quicquid  est  in 
villa  Sancti  iEdmundi,  vel  infra  bannamleucam,  de  jure 
Sancti  .  Kdinundi  est :  ergo,  vel  judei  debent  esse  homines 
Sancti  iEdmundi,  vel  de  villa  sunt  eieiendi.  Data  est 
ergo  licentia,  ut  eos  eiceret,  ita  tamen  quod  haberent 
omnia  katalla,  scilicet  et  precia  domorum  suarum  et 
terrarum.  Et  cum  emissi  essent,  et  armata  manu  con- 
ducti  ad  diversa  oppida,  abbas  jussit  sollempniter  excom- 
munieari  per  omnes  ecclesias  et  ad  omnia  altaria  omnes 
illos,  qui  de  cetero  receptarent  judeos  vel  in  hospicio  re- 
ciperent  in  villa  Sancti  iEdmundi.  Quod  tamen  postea 
dispensatum  est  per  justiciarios  regis,  scilicet,  ut  si  judei 
venerint  ad  magna  placita  abbatis  ad  exigendum  debita 
sua  a  debitoribus  suis,  subhac  occasione  poterunt  duobus 
diebus  et  II.  noctibus  hospitari  in  villa,  tercio  autem  die 
libere  discedent. 


[Earl  of  .Clare  v.  Abbot  op  St.  Edmund.     Probably 

ABOUT    1190.]  ' 

[The  plaintiff  sues  for  alleged  annual  clues  of  five  shillings,  asserted  by 
him  to  be  unjustly  detained  ;  the  money  being  due  for  carrying  the 
defendant's  standard  in  war.  The  defendant  replies  that  the  office 
of  standard-bearer  to  St.  Edmund  is  also  claimed  by  Roger  Bigot 
and  Thomas  de  Mendham,  and  insists  that  the  plaintiff  must  first 
interplead  the  matter  with  them.] 

Facta  es1  summonicio  magna  in  hundredo  de  Risebrigga, 
ut  audiretur  querela  et  rectum  comitis  de  Clara  apud 
Witham.      Ipse  vero   constipatus   multis  baronibus   et 

1  Chi'on.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  11  (Camden  Soc). 


RICHARD    I.  2S1 

militibus,  comite  Alborico  et  multis  aliis  assistentibus, 
dixit ;  quod  ballivi  sui  fecerunt  ei  intelligere,  quod  ipsi 
solebant  annuatim  accipere  ad  opus  suum  V.  solidos  de 
huudredo  et  ballivis  hundredi,  et  nunc  detinerentuv  in- 
juste ;  et  allegabat,  quod  predeoessores  sui  fuevunt  feoffati, 
ad   capcionem  Anglie,    de    terra  Alfriei  filii  "Withari;1 
qui  quondam   fuerat  dominus    illius    hundredi.     Abbas 
vero  sibi  consulens,  nee  de  loco  se  movens,  respondit : 
"  Mirum  videtur,    domine    comes,   quod    dicis !    deficit. 
Rex  ^Edwardus  dedit   Sancto  vEdmundo   et  carta   sua 
confirmavit  bunc  hundredum  integre,  et  de  illis  V.  soli- 
dis  nulla  fit  ibi  mencio.      Dicendum  est  tibi,  pro  quo 
servicio,   vel  qua  ratione  exigis    illos  V.  solidos."      Et 
comes,  habito  consilio  suorum,  respondit  se  debere  portare 
vexillum  Sancti  iEdmundi  in  exercitu,  et  ob  banc  causam 
illos  V.  solidos  sibi  deberi.     Et  respondit  abbas  :  ' '  Certe, 
inglorium  esse  videtur  si  tantus  vir,  utpote  comes  Claren- 
sis,  tarn  parvum  donum  pro  tali  servicio  recipiat :  abbati 
autem  Sancti  iEdmundi    parvum    gravamen    est    dare 
V.  solidos.     Comes   R.    Bigot    se    saisiatum    tenet,  et 
saisiatum   se    assent   officio    portandi   vexillum    Sancti 
iEdmundi,  qui  illud  portavit  quando  comes  Leliecestrie 
fuit  captus    et    Flandrenses    destructi.     Tbomas    eciam 
de    Mendham    dicit     hoc    esse  jus    suum.     Cum    vero 
dirationaveris  versus  eos  hoc  esse  jus  tuum,  ego  libenter 
V.     solidos,     quos     queris,    persolvam."     Comes     vero 
respondit,  se  esse  locuturum  inde  cum  comite  R.  cognato 
suo,  et  sic  res  cepit  dilacionem  usque  hodie. 

i  1  Doomsday,  3S9  b,  390. 


282  n.acita  angl0-n0rmann1ca. 

[Monks   of    St.    Edmund    v.    Citizens  of  London. 

1192.] ' 

[The  monks  of  St.  Edmund  demand  of  their  tenants  of  London  in- 
creased rent  of  tenements  held  by  them,  which  the  latter  refuse 
to  pay.  The  monks  now  request  the  abbot  to  disseise  them, 
which  lie  declines  to  do  without  due  process  of  law,  stating  that 
to  disseise  freemen  of  lands  or  rents  which  they  have  held  for 
many  years,  justly  or  unjustly,  would  be  unlawful.] 

Decimo  anno  abbatiae  Samsonis  abbatis,  de  communi 
consilio  capitnli  nostri,  conquesti  sumus  abbati  in  curia 
sua,  dicentes  redditus  et  exitus  omnium  bonarum  \  ilia- 
rum  et  burgorum  Anglie  crescere,  et  augmentari  in  com- 
modmn  possidencium  et  emendacionem  dominorum, 
preter  villain  istam2  que  XL.  libras  dare  solet,  et  nun- 
quam  ad  plus  extenditurj  el  burgenses  ville  esse  in  causa 
hujusmodi  rei,  qui  tantas  ei  tot  purpresturas  tenent  in 
foro,  de  sopis  et  seldis,  et  stalagiis,  sine  assensu  con- 
ventus,  et  ex  solo  dono  prefectorum  ville.  qui  annuales 
firmarii  et  quasi  servientes  sacriste  fuerunt,  pro  bene- 
placito  ejus  removendi.  Burgenses  vero  summoniti 
responderunt,  se  esse  in  assisa  regis,3  nee  de  tenementis, 
que  illi  et  patres  eorum  tenuerunt,  bene  et  in  pace,  uno 
anno  et  uno  die,  sine  calumpnia,  se  velle  respondere 
contra  libertatem  ville  ei  cartas  suas;  et  dixerunt  talem 
fuisse  consuetudinem  antiquam,  ut  prefecti  darent,  incon- 
sulto  conventu,  loca  soparum  ei  seldarum  in  Boro  per 
aliquem  redditum  prefecture  annuatim  reddendum.  Nos 
autem  reclamantes  volumus,  ut  abbas  dissaisiaret  eos  de 
talibus  tenementis,  unde  warantum  nullum  habuerunt. 
Abbas  vero  veniens  ad  consilium  nostrum,  tanquam  unus 
ex  nobis,  secreto  aobis  dixit,  se  velle  nobis  rectum  tenere 
pro  posse  suo  ;  sed  ordine  justiciario  se  debere  procedere, 

I  Ihron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  56  (Camden  Soc).  -    Li  i 

:  g's  law. 


RICHARD    I.  283 

nee  siiu'  judicio  curie  posse  dissaisiare  liberos  homines 
suos  de  terris  vel  redditibus  suis,  quos  per  plures  annos 
tenuerunt,  sive  juste,  sive  injuste:  quod  si  faceret;  diee- 
bal  se  cadere  in  miserieordiam  regis  per  assisam  regni. 
Burgenses  ergo,  ineuntes  consilium,  optulerunt  conventui 
redditum  C.  solidorum  pro  bono  pacis,  et  ut  tenerent  tene- 
menta  sua,  sicut  solebant.  Nos  vero  hoe  noluimus  conee- 
dere,  malentes  ponere  loquelam  in  respectum,  sperantes 
forsitan,  tempore  alterius  abbatis,  vel  omnia  recuperare, 
vel  locum  nundinarum  mutarc  ;  et  ita  res  cepit  dilacio- 
ueni  per  plures  annos. 


[Case  of  Girard  of  Camvill.     119:3.]' 

[The  defendant  is  appealed  in  a  council  of  the  king  of  various 
offences;  one  charge  being  of  treason  to  the  king  in  refusing  to 
obey  a  summons  of  the  king's  justiciars  for  receiving  stolen 
Is.  The  defendant  answers  that  he  is  the  man  of  earl  John, 
and  is  willing  to  be  tried  in  the  latter's  court.  The  defendant  is 
also  appealed  of  supporting  earl  John.  He  denies  all  the 
charges ;  his  appellors  give  pledges  for  prosecuting  their  ap- 
peals: and  the  defendant  gives  pledges  for  defending  himself  by 
one  of  his  men.] 

Secunda  die  mensis  Aprilis  celebravit  [rex  Ricardus] 
diem  quartum  et  ultiinum  concilii  suij  in  quo  omnes  qui 
volebant  conqueri  de  archiepiscopo  Eboraeensi,  fecerunt 
querimonias  multas.  .  .  .  Deinde  Girardus  de  Cam- 
villa  I'uit  rtlatus  de  receptione  pnedonum,  qui  rapuerunt 
bona  mercatorum  euntium  ad  nundinas  de  Stanford; 
al>  eo  recesserunt  ad  rapinam  illam  faciendam,  et  de 
rapina   ilia   redierunt   ad  eum.     Praeterea  appellaverun 

1  Madox,  Hist.  Exch.  L6s  3  Rog.  de  Uuv,  242  (Rec.  Com 


284  PLACITA    ANGLO-NOEMANNICA. 

cum  de  laesione  regise  majestatis,  in  eo  quod  ipse  ad  voca- 
tionem  justitiarum  regis  venire  noluit,  nee  juri  stave  de 
prsedicta  receptatione  raptorum,  neque  eos  ad  justitiam 
regis  producere;  sed  respondit,  se  esse  hominem  comitis 
Johannis1  et  velle  in  curia  sua  juri  stare.  Praeterea 
appellaverunt  eum,  quod  ipse  fuit  in  vi  et  adjutorio  cum 
comite  Johanne,  et  aliis  inimicis  regis,  ad  castella  regis 
de  Notingham  et  deTikehil  eapienda.  Girardus  vero  de 
Camvilla  negavit  omnia  quse  objiciebantur  ei  ab  illis;  et 
illi  dederunt  vadium  de  prosequendo,  et  Girardus  dedit 
vadium  de  defendendo  se  per  unum  de  liberis  bominibus 
suis. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Edmund.     1194.] 2 

[An  inquisition  being  ordered  as  to  the  last  presentation  of  the 
church  at  B.,  five  of  the  recognitors  come  to  the  abbot  and  in- 
dicate a  willingness  to  be  corrupted.  The  abbot  declines  to  en- 
tertain their  suggestion,  and  they  depart  in  anger;  finding 
against  him.] 

Ecclesia  vero  de  Bocsford  vaeante,  cum  summonita 
fuisset  inde  recognicio/  venerunt  quinque  milites  temp- 
t  antes  abbatem,  et  querentes  quid  inde  deberent  jurare. 
Abbas  autem  noluit  eis  aliquid  dare,  vel  proniittere,  sed 
dixit  :  "  Cum  ad  juramentum  perventum  i'uerit,  dicite 
rectum  secundum  conscientiam  vesti-am."  ]psi  vero  in- 
dignantes  recesserunt,  et  ei  per  juramentum  suum  advo- 
cacionem  illius  ecclesie,  scilicet  ultimam  presentacionem, 
abstulerunl  ;  quam  tamen  postea  recuperavit,  multis 
i'actis  expensis,  et  datis  decern  marcis. 

1  Afterwards  king  John. 

Chron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  11  (Camden  Soc). 
'  As  to  the  hist  presentation. 


RICHARD    I.  285 

[Hubert  of  St.  Q.  y.  Stephen  of  F.  et  al.      1195.]' 

[The  defendants  are  appealed  of  entering  the   plaintiff's  premises 

feloniously,  with  force  and  arms,  and  carrying  off  turf ;  and  this 
the  plaintiff  oilers  to  prove  by  W.  X.  and  It.  of  St.  M.  The  de- 
fendant \V.  eonics  and  defends  the  felony,  and  says  that  the 
premises  from  which  he  took  the  turf  wero  his  own  frank  tene- 
ment, and  not  that  of  the  plaintiff.  The  defendant  R.  comes  and 
defends  everything  charged  upon  him  de  verba  in  verbum. 
Judgment  that  the  sheriff  cause  a  view  of  the  land  in  question 
by  four  knights,  aud  by  them  report  to  whom  the  premises 
belong.] 

Hubertus  de  Sancto  Quintino  appellat  Stephanura  do 
Fauconberg-e  et  Willelmum  de  Killinge  et  Everardum 
de  Whiticco  et  Robertum  de  Tudintona  et  illorum  vim 
quod  venerunt  in  terrain  suam  de  Bortona  cum  vi  et  armis 
et  robberia  et  nequiter  et  in  pace 2  domini  regis  aspor- 
taverunt  catalla  sua  scilicet  turbas  ad  valenciam  LX. 
solidorum  et  ea  duxerunt  in  curiam  illius  Willelmi,  et 
hoc  offert  probare  per  Walterum  Norensem  qui  custos  erat 
terrae  illius  versus  ipsum  Willelmum  et  per  Ricardum  de 
Sancto  MicUaelo  versus  Robertum  qui  eum  vidit  in  vi  ilia, 
et  vicecomes  testatur  quod  Stephanus  non  fuit  inventus 
quando  summonitio  primo  venit,  quia  est  ultra  mare. 
Willelmus  venitetdefendit  feloniamet  robberiam  et  totum 
de  verbo  in  verbum  et  dicit  quod  turbas  quas  asportavit, 
asportavit  de  libero  tenemento  suo  et  de  f'eodo  suo,  et  non 
in  feodo  ipsius  Huberti ;  et  Hubertus  dicit  quod  turbas 
illas  fodere  et  facere  fecit  postquam  dominus  rex  Ricar- 
dus  applicuit  de  Alamannia  bene  et  in  pace  et  sine  aliquo 
clamio  quod  Willelmus  inde  fecisset,  et  quod  post  trans- 
fretacionem  domini  regis  in  Normanniam  illas  asportavit  ; 
et  Robertus  totum  defendit  versum  ipsum  Hubertum  de 
verbo   in   verbum.     Consideratum    est   quod   vicecomes 

1  Rot.  Cur.  Regis,  38.  2  pacem  ? 


286  ri.WTiA    ANGLO-NORMANNICA. 

faciaf  fieri  visumde  terra  ilia  unde  turbe  asportate  fuerunt, 

et  per  IIII.  milites  ferre  recordum  illius  visus  cujus  sit 

terra  ilia  :  apud  Westmonasterium. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that   the  righ<  of  property  is  here  ordered 
to  be  tried  in  an  action  of  trespass. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  v.  Jordan.]1 

[nquisition  concerning  a   plea  of  land,  claimed  by  the  defendanl   as 

his  frani  tene at,  and  return  of  the  recognitors  thai   the  land 

lias  never  be<  n  separate  from  the  church  of  St.  Edmund,  and  thai 
it  owes  the  same  service  to  the  church  as  certain  other  land- 
named.  The  defendant  thereupon  acknowledges  the  superior 
right  of  the  '  liurch.] 

Postea  mota  est  controvert i a  inter  abbatem  et  eundem 
Jordanum  de terra  Herardi  in  Ilerlava, ntrnmesset  liberum 
feudum  ecclesie,  an  non.  Cumque  inde  summonita  esset 
recognicio  duodecim  militum  in  curia  regis  Hacienda,  facta 
est  in  curia  abbatis  apud  Herlavamper  licentiam  Rannulfi 
de  Glanvillaj  et  juraverunl  recognitores  se  nunquam 
scivisse  illamterram  fuisse  separatamab  ecclesia,sed  tamen 
illani  terrain  debere  abbati  tale  scrvieinni  quale  debet  terra 
Eustaehii,  et  quedam  alie  terre  laicorum  in  eadem  villa. 
Tandem  convenil  inter  ens  ita:  magister  Jordanus  in 
plena  curia  recognovit  i  11am  terrain  esse  laienm  feudum, 
el  se  nieliil  inde  vendicare,  nisi  per  gratiam  abbatis;  et 
illani  terrain  tenebit  omnibus  diebus  vite  sue,  reddendo 
inde  annuatim  abbati  XII.  denarios  pro  omnibus  ser- 
viciis. 

'  Chron.  Joe.  de  Brakel.  !.">  (Camden  Soc.) 


APPENDIX 


[Bishop    Wulstan    v.    Abbot   Walter.     About  1077  (?)    ani» 
1085—6.]  » 

[The  full  text  of  the  original  writ  referred  to  in  the  note,  ante, 
p.  18,  is  as  follows  : — ] 

W.  rex  Anglorum  Lanfranco  archiepiscopo  et  Gosfrido  episcopo 
Constantiensi  salutem.  Paeite  ita  esse  socam  et  sacam  inter  epis- 
copum  Wlstanum  et  Walterum  abbatera  de  Euesham,  sicut  erant 
die,  qua  novissime,  tempore  regis  Eduuardi,  geldum  acceptum  fuit 
ad  navigium  faciendum,  et  ad  istud  deplacitandum,  sis  Gosfride 
prsesul  in  meo  loco,  et,  ut  plene  episcopus  Wulstanus  suam  rectitu- 
dinem  habeat,  stude,  et  domos  quas  episcopus  contra  abbatem 
reclamat  in  Wireceastra,  facite  sibi  juste  habere.  Et  ut  omnes  illi, 
qui  terras  ejus  tenent,  parati  sint  semper  in  meo  servitio,  et  suo. 
Teste  Rogero  de  Iurio. 

[The  following  record  of  the  judgment  in  this  case  was  drawn  up 
by  the  king's  justiciar,  bishop  Geoffrey  of  Coutances: — ]2 

Gosfridus  Constantiensis  episcopus,  Remigio  episcopo,  et  Waltero 
Giffardo,  et  Henrico  de  Ferer,  et  Adam,  caeterisque  baronibus  regis, 
salutem.  Sciatis,  quod  ego  testimonium  fero,  quia  dum,  ex  prsecepto 
regis,  placitum  tenui  inter  episcopum  Wlstanum  et  abbatem  de 
Ueshand3  quod  episcopus  diraciocinavit  III.  hidas  ad  Benninc- 
unyrthe,  et  domos  in  civitate  de  suo  feudo  esse,  ita  quod  abbas  sibi 
debet  inde  servire,  sicut  alii  sui  feudati.  Et  deratiocinavit  socam  et 
sacam  de  Hamtona  ad  suum  hundred  de  Osuualdes  lauue,  quod  ibi 
debent  placitare,  et  geldum  et  expeditiouem,  et  cetera  legis  servitia, 
de  illis  XV.  hidis  secum  debet  persolvere,  et  ciricsceat,  et  sepulturam, 
a<l  suam  villam  Croppethorne  debent  reddere.     Hoc  fuit  diratio- 

1  1  Monasticon,  60]  (ed.  1816).  -  lb.  3  Evesham. 


288  APPENDIX. 

i  in  i! mil  ot  jurahim  coram  me,  ct  Urs  do  Abetot,  et  Osberno  filio 
Escrob,  et  caeteris  baronibus  regis,  jadicaate  et  testificante  omni 
vice  ;omitatu. 

[The  following  acknowledgment  of  the  concord  which  is  mentioned 
in  the  plea,  ante,  p.  19,  is  given  by  Heming,  a  monk  of  Worcester 
at  the  time,  from  whom,  indeed,  all  the  reports  of  this  case  here  given 
have  been  derived  : — ]  l 

Hec  est confirmatio  conventions,  facte  inter  episcopum  Wlfstanum, 
el  Walterum abbatem  de  Eouesham,  de  XV.  hidis  in  ILeamtone,  et 

IIII.  in   Bennincuuyrthe.      Hi st,   quod  ipse  abbas   recognovit, 

teste  omni  conventu  TJuigornensis  ecclesie,  et  multis  fratribus  de 
Eouesham,  et  Bemigio  episcopo,  et  Henrico  de  Fereris,  et  Waltero 
GifFardo,  et  Adam,  regis  principibus,  qui  venerunt  ad  inquirendas 
terras  comitatus,  quod  ille  XV.  liide  juste  pertinent  ad  Osuualdes 
lauue  hundredum  episcopi,  et  debent  cum  ipso  episcopo  censum  regis 
solvere,  et  omnia  aliaservitia  ad  regem  pertinentia,  et  inde  idem  re- 
quirere  ad  placitandnm,  et  de  IIII.  hidis  predictis  in  Bennincuuyrthe 
similiter.  Sed  episcopus  ibi  plus  calumpniabatur,  quia  reclamabat 
totam  ipsam  terrain  ad  suum  dominium ;  sed  quia  ipse  abbas  hoc 
humiliter  recognovit,  rogatu  ipsorum  qui  affuerunt,  ipse  episcopus 
permisit  illam  terrain  ipsi  abbati  et  fratribus,  tali  pacto,  ut  ipse  abbas 
faciat  inde  tarn  honorabilem  recognitionem  et  servitium,  sicut  ipse  ab 
ipso  episcopo  et  quamdiu  requirere  poterit.  Hujus  conventionis 
testes  sunt  prenominati  barones  regis,  et  alii  quorum  nomina  hie 
habentur.  Serlo  abbate  de  Gloecestre,  Nigellus  clericus  Remigii 
episcopi,  Ulf  monachus  Remigii  episcopi,  Wlfi  presbiter,  Ranulf 
monachus  ejusdem,  Edric  de  Hindelep,  Alfuuinus  monachus  de 
Sancto  Remigio,  Godric  de  Piria,  Ailricus  avcliidiaconus,  Ordric 
Diger,  Fridericus  clericus,  All'uuinus  iilius  Brihtmer. 

It  thus  appears  that  this  acknowledgment  of  the  concord  with 
which  the  case  as  given  ante,  p.  19,  terminated,  was  made  in  the 
course  of  the  great  survey  of  Doomsday.  And  the  fact  is  also 
affirmed  by  Heming  on  his  own  authority.  He  says:  "  Unde  super 
hac  re  facta  ab  ipsis  inquisitione,  et  testimonio  totius  vicecomitatus 
sacramento  firmato,  in  autentica  regis  cartula2  hoc  testimonium  scribi 
fecerunt,  et  regali  suaque  auctoritate  stabilitum  deinceps,  absque 

1   Hemingi  Can.  75,296. 

-  That  is,  the  record  lor  Doomsday.  See  Vol.  I.,  p.  172  b,  where 
the  "cartula"  her-  referred  to.  an.]  given  by  Heming  on  pp.  298, 
299,  is  found. 


A.PPENDIX.  J89 

querela  et  calumnia,  eandem  libertatem  lirmam  episcopo  de  ipso 
hundred,  et  terris  ad  cum  pertinentibus,  perinanere,  rege  annucnte, 
judicaverunt." 

M  r.  Freeman  assigns  the  whole  litigation,  including  the  plea  given 
.  pp.  16—19,  to  the  time  of  the  survey,  asserting  that  the 
king's  writ  (supra)  "  was  sent  to  the  commissioners  for  the  very 
purpose  of  fixing  the  entry  to  be  made  in  Doomsday."  5  Norman 
Conquest,  763  (Oxford  ed.).  But  there  are  strong  grounds  for 
doubting  this  statement. 

It  is  perfectly  clear  from  the  various  records  here  given  that  there 
were  two  stages  to  this  litigation,  or  rather  two  distinct  litigations  ; 
the  first,  as  hishop  Geoffrey's  writ  states,  being  the  trial  before  him 
and  his  associates,  and  the  second,  as  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
concord  shows,  being  before  the  commissioners  of  Doomsday.  Now 
it  may  well  be  inquired  why,  if  the  commissioners  ordered  the  trial 
reported  ante,  p.  16,  they  should  not  have  been  satisfied  with  the 
return  made  by  the  presiding  judge,  without  an  acknowledgment, 
before  themselves,  of  the  concord  just  agreed  upon,  according  to  this 
view,  in  open  court.  The  proceeding  would  be  idle,  unless  it  was 
in  the  nature  of  an  appeal  from  the  judgment  pronounced  by  Geof- 
frey ;  and  nothing  of  this  kind  appears. 

There  are,  however,  stronger  grounds  for  supposing  that  the 
trial  reported  near  the  commencement  of  this  book  was  distinct 
from  the  acknowledgment  of  the  concord,  antedating  it  by  a  con- 
siderable number  of  years.  The  procedure  there  employed  is  the 
old  procedure  of  the  Anglo-Saxons  (which  lingered  on  for  a  very 
long  period  after  the  Conquest).  The  record  is  clear  upon  this 
point:  it  shows  the  case  divided  in  the  midst  by  a  judgment  in 
the  usual  Anglo-Saxon  manner,  not  upon  the  merits  of  the  cause, 
but  directing  the  mode  of  producing  the  proofs.  Ante,  p.  18, 
'•  Tandem  ex  precepto,"  &c.  See  also  Essays  in  Anglo-Saxon  Law, 
p.  249,  to  the  same  effect.  And  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the 
king's  writ  does  not  order  an  inquisition,  but  is  substantially  what 
in  later  times  was  called  a  writ  of  right, — a  writ  as  yet  imperfectly 
developed.  The  litigation  before  the  commissioners  of  Doomsda}7, 
on  the  other  hand,  was  under  the  new  procedure  by  inquisition,  as 
is  distinctly  stated  in  the  passage  last  quoted  from  Heming.  For 
such  a  purpose,  the  king's  writ  should  have  been  like  the  writs 
given  ante,  pp.  24,  33. 

If  it  should  still  be  said  that  this  does  not  show  that  the  two 
trials  might  not  have  been  continuous,  or  nearly  so,  there  remains 
another  potent   fact.     The   names   of  those  present  at  the  later 

u 


290  APPENDIX. 

litigation  are  above  given,  and  they  do  not  include  one  of  those 

stated  to  have  been  present  at  the  earlier  trial, — a  singular  fact  if 
Mr.  Freeman's  view  be  correct,  since  they  would  be  the  very  persons 
to  bear  witness  of  the  concord.  Most  if  not  all  of  them  held  lands 
in  Worcestershire  at  the  time  of  the  survey.1  Hence,  probably, 
they  could  not  have  lived  far  away,  and  might  well  he  expected  to 
he  present  throughout.  Besides,  Heming  also  gives  (p.  291)  the 
names  of  those  at  Oswaldslaw  who  swore  on  behalf  of  the  bishop 
and  prior  before  the  commissioners,  either  at  the  second  trial,  or, 
more  likely,  in  making  the  Doomsday  return  of  the  property  of 
the  church  ;  and  not  one  of  the  persons  present  at  the  first  trial 
appears  among  them. 

The  difficulties  are  all  removed  by  supposing  a  considerable 
nterval  between  the  two  trials.  When  the  cause  came  before  the 
commissions,  the  witnesses  who  appeared  before  bishop  Geoffrey 
may  well  have  been  absent  from  the  count}-,  or  possiblv  it  may 
have  been  forgotten  who  they  were.  It  seems,  then,  not  unreason- 
able to  assign  the  first  trial  to  the  early  part  of  the  administration 
of  Walter  (who  was  inducted  abbot  in  May,  1  *  >77).  when  the  dis- 
pute probably  arose.2  The  bishop  would  hardly  be  content  to 
allow  the  abbot  to  bold  the  property  peaceably  for  eight  or  nine 
years,  and  thus  to  gradually  fortify  himself  by  a  prescriptive  title. 

This  view  also  makes  the  record  of  bishop  Geoffrey  more  intelli- 
gible. It  was  sent  to  the  court  in  the  ordinary  way,  as  evidence 
concerning  a  decision  rendered  a  considerable  time  since,  the  exist- 
ence or  nature  of  which,  after  such  an  interval,  might  fie  seriously 
disputed;  for  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  al  that  time  judgments 
were  not  regularly  enrolled  and  preserved  by  the  courts.  Other 
instances  of  the  same  nature  are  given  ante,  pp.  150,  1  s2.  L91-197. 

It  should  be  added  that  Palgrave  and  the  editor  of  the  Kssays  in 
Anglo-Saxon    Law  also  assign  the  plea  before  bishop  Geoffrey  to 
mt  1077." 

The  whole  case  is  therefore  even  more  interesting  than  Mr, 
Freeman  would  make  it.  It  illustrates  not  only  the  new  procedure 
and  tic  mode  of  taking  the  great  survey  upon  disputed  claims,  but 

also  one  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  modes  of  trial. 

1  Kinneward,  1  Doomsd.  172  b,  173;   Edric,  the  steersman,  and 

filius  Ricardi,  ib.  17:!  b;    LTrse,  the  sheriff,  'passim. 

2  Other  disputes  between  the  bishop  of  Worcester  and  the  abbot 
of  Evesham  had  existed  before  Walter's  advent.  Heming,  270; 
5  Fn  eman,  Norm.  I  ird  ed.). 


\  I'M  AIM  \.  :>',)1 

B. 

APPEAL  OF  TREASON  AND  ABUSE  OF  OFFICE. 
[The  King  v.  Earl  Odo.    1082.]  ' 

[The  defendant,  half-brother  of  William  the  Conqueror,  had  been 
rewarded  with  the  county  of  Kent  for  his  services  in  the  Conquest, 
at  the  same  time  retaining  his  position  as  bishop.  Hoping  to 
succeed  Gregory  VII.  in  the  papacy,  Odo  had,  during  the  absence 
of  the  king  in  Normandy,  made  great  preparations  to  go  to  Rome 
to  look  after  his  prospects  in  person,  and  had  made  the  most  lavish 
outlays  to  ensure  success.  The  king  had  left  him  in  charge  of  the 
kingdom,  as  chief  justiciar.     The  account  proceeds  : — ] 

Apparatum  hujusmodi  prudens  rex  Guillelmus  edidicit,  sed  non 
approbavit,  regnoque  suo,  multisque  aliis  valde  uociturum  sestima- 
vit.  Unde  festinanter  in  Angliam  transfretavit,  ac  Odoni  episcopo 
cum  grandi  pompa  navigare  in  Normanniam  cupienti,  ex  insperato 
in  insula  Vecta  *  obviavit.  Ibi  nimirum  congregatis  in  aula  regali 
primoribus  regni  rex  ita  locutus  est. 

"  Egregii  proceres,  verba  mea  diligenter  audite,  et  salubre  con- 
silium mihi,  qua?so,  tribuite.  Antequam  transfretassem  in  Nor- 
manniam, regimen  Anglian  fratri  meo,  Bajocensi  episcopo,  commen- 
daveram.  In  Normannia  multi  contra  me  surrexerunt,  et,  ut  ita 
dicam,  intimi3  et  forinseci  me  invaserunt.  Robertus  filius  meus, 
et  tirones  quos  enutrivi,  et  quibus  arma  dedi,  contra  me  rebellave- 
runt,  eisque  mei  malefici  clientes  et  finitimi  hostes  grantanter  adhaj- 
serunt.  Verum  Deo,  cujus  servus  sum,  me  protegente,  uil  profece- 
runt;  nee  de  meo  aliquid,  nisi  ferrum  in  vulneribus  suis,  obtinue- 
runt.  Conglobatos  in  me  Andegavenses  paratus  ad  bellum  terrore 
compressi,  parique  modo  rebellantes  Cenomannos  armis  et  viribus 
compescui.  His  nimirum  occupationibus  ultra  mare  irretitus  fui, 
ibique  diu  moratus.  publicis  utilitatibus  laboriose  deservivi.  In- 
terea  frater  meus  Angliam  vehementer  oppressit,  et  ecclesias  fundis 
et  redditibus  exspoliavit,  ornamentis  ab  antecessoribus  eiitis 
nudavit,  militesque  meos,  qui  contra  Danos  et  Hibernenses,  et  alios 
hostes  mihi  nimis  infestos,  Angliam  tutari  debuerant,  seduxit,  et 
trans  Alpes  in  extera  regna,  me  contempto,  pertrahere  disponit. 
Nimius  labor  cor   meum  angit,  praecipue  pro  ecclesiis  Dei,  quas 

1  3  Ord.  Vital.  180  (French  Hist.  Soc).  -  Isle  of  Wight. 

3  inimioi  ? 

u  2 


292  APPENDTX. 

afflixit.  Christiani  reges,  qui  ante  me  regnaverunt,  ecclesiara  Dei 
amaverunt,  honoribus  et  xeniis  multi  generis  locupletaverunt ; 
undo  nunc,  ut  credimus,  in  amcena  sede  felici  retribution e  gauden tea 
requiescunt.  Adelbertus  et  Edvinus  ac  Sanctus  Oswaldus,  Athul- 
rus  ac  Alfredus,  Edwardus  senior  ei  Edgarus,  cognatusque  meus 
c(  carissimus  dominus  Edwardus  dederunt  opes  Ecclesise  Sanctse, 
quae  est  sponsa  Dei.  Et  frater  meus,  cui  totius  regni  tutelam 
commendavi,  violenter  opes  diripuit,  crudeliter  pauperes  oppressit, 
frivola  spe  milites  niibi  surripuit,  totumque  regnum  injustis  exac- 
tionibus  concutiens  exagitavit.  Quid  inde  agendum  sit  caute  con- 
siderate, et  mihi,  quaeso,  insinuate." 

Cumque  omnes  tantum  virum  timerent,  et  sententiam  in  ilium 
proferre  dubitarent,  magnanimus  rex  ait:  "Noxia  temeritas  sem- 
per comprimenda  est,  nee  uni  ad  detrimentum  reipublicse  pro  ali- 
quo  favore  parcendum  est.  Hunc  ergo  virum,  qui  terrain  turbat, 
comprebendite ;  et,  ne  in  deterius  prsevaleat,  solerter  custodite." 
Cumque  nullus  in  episcopum  auderet  injicere  manum,  rex  ipse 
primus  apprebendit  eum.  Illo  autem  reclamante  :  "  Clericus  sum, 
et  minister  Domini  ;  non  licet  pontificem  damnare  sine  judicio 
papae;"  providus  rex  ait :  "Ego  non  clericum  nee  antistitem  damno, 
sell  comitem  meum,1  quern  meo  vice  mea  praeposui  regno,  rationem 
commissse  villicationis  audire  volens  comprehendo." 

Sic  regia  potestas  prsefatum  praesulem  cepit,  in  Normanniam 
deduei  fecit,  et  in  arce  Rotomagensi  incarcei"avit,  ibique  intrusum 
quatuor  annis,  id  est  usque  ad  tinem  vitas  suae2  diligenter  custo- 
divit. 

Compare  The  King  v.  Bishop  "William,  j>ost.  p.  307;  also  The 
King  v.  Thomas  a  Becket,  ante,  p.  213. 


1  That  is,  as  earl  of  Kent  ; — the  suggestion,  not  unlikely,  of  Lan- 
franc,  as  in  the  case  of  bisbop  William,  post,  p.  309. 

-  The  king's  life.  Odo  was  released  in  the  king's  last  illness, 
only  to  prove  as  troublesome  and  dangerous  as  before.  See  the 
if  bishop  William,  post,  p.  3l  18. 


AIM'KXDIX.  293 


DOOMSDAY  INQUISITIONS.1 
[Archbishop  Lanfranc  v.  Bishop  Odo.] 
Hoc  manerium  [Estoches]  fait  et  est  de  episcopatu  Rofensi,  sed 
Goduinus  comes  tempore  regis  Edwardi  emitilladde  duobus  homi- 
nilius  qui  eum  tenebant  de  episcopo,  et  eo  ignorante  facta  est  ha&c 
venditio.  Postmodum  vero  reguante  Willelmo  rege,  diratiocinavit 
illud  Laufrancus  arcbiepiscopus  contra  Baiocensem  episcopum,  et 
imle  est  inodo  saisita  Rofensis  ascclesia.     1  Doomsday,  5  b. 

[Abbot  of  St.  Augustine  v.  The  Son  of  Ansfeid.] 

Hoc  manerium  [Badelesmere]  reclamat  abbas  Sancti  Augustini, 

quia  habuit  tempore  regis  Edwardi  et  bundred  attestantur  ei.     Sed 

til  ins  bominis  [Ansfrid]  dicit  patrem  suuvn   se  posse  vertere   ubi 

voluerit,  et  boc  non  annuunt  monacbi  [Sancti  Augustini].     lb.  10. 

[Abbot  of  St.  Peter.     Manor  of  Treverde.] 
Hoc  manerium  [Treverde]  calumpniatur  abbas  Sancti  Petri  Win- 
toniensis.     Testatur  bundred  quod  tempore  regis  Edwardi  tenebat 
cum  de  abbate  qui  tenebat  tantummodo  tempore  vitaa  suas.    lb.  23. 

[Lands  of  Bishop  Odo.] 

Rannulfus  vicecomes  tenet  I.  bagam,  quam  hucusque  tenuit  de 

episcopo  Baiocensi.  Homines  vero  testiiicantur  quia  non  adjacet 
alicui  manerio,  sed  qui  tenebat  earn  tempore  regis  Edwardi  con- 
cessit earn  Toui  proposito  villo,  pro  emendatione  unius  suaj  foris- 
facturae. 

Altera  domus  est  quam  tenet  propositus  episcopi  Baiocensis  de 
manerio  Bronlei.  De  boc  dicunt  bomines  de  comitatu,  quod  non 
babet  ibi  aliam  rectitudinem,  nisi  quod  quandam  viduam  cujus  erat 
domus  accepit  propositus  villaj,  et  ideo  misit  episcopus  domum 
illam  in  suo  manerio,  et  hucusque  perdidit  rex  consuetudines,  epis- 
copus autem  babet. 

Dicunt  etiam  homines  qui  juraverunt  de  alia  domo  qua1  jacet  in 
Brunlei,  propter  hoc  tantum  quod  propositus  de  ipsa  villa  fuit  ami- 
cus hominis  illius  qui  banc  domum  habebat,  et  eo  mortuo  convertit 
earn  ad  manerium.     lb.  30. 

1  Here  are  given  all  the  rest  of  the  cases  of  Doomsday  of  any 
legal  value,  not  given  in  the  text,  ante,  pp.  37 — 61.  The  date  is 
anno  1085-1086. 


Z94  APPENDIX. 

[Lofus  v.  Bishop  Odo.] 
Quidam  praepositus  regis  nomine  Lofus  hoc  manerium  [Ferne- 
come]  calumpniatur,  ct  homines  de  hundred  illi  testificantur,  quia 
tenebat  illud  de  rege  quando  f'uit  vex  in  Wales,  et  post  tenuit, 
donee  episcopus  Baiocensis  in  Chent  peiTexit.  Ipse  episcopus  con- 
verts ad  firmam  de  Bronlei  Reddesolham  et  Pernecome.     lb.  31  b. 

[Land  of  Abbot  Ulwold.     Wbit  ob  Liveey  or  Seisin.] 

Isdem  Ricardus  habet  VI.  hidas  in  manerio  Ebsa,  quas  abbas 
Wluuoldus  deliberavit  ei  in  emendatione  Waletone,  sic  homines 
Ricardi  dicunt.  Sed  homines  de  hundred  dicurit  se  nunquam  vi- 
disse  brevem  vel  liberatorem  regis  qui  eum  inde  saisisset.  Hanc 
terram  tenuerunt  noveni  teigni,  et  cum  ea  se  poterant  vertere  quo 
volebant.    lb.  35. 

[Ansculf,  a  Sheriff.    Seal  or  Livery  of  Seisin.] 
Hanc  terram  habuit  Ansculfus  postquam  recepit  vicecomitatum, 
sed  homines  de  hundredo  dicunt  se  nun  vidisse  sigillum  nee  libera- 
torem.    lb.  36. 

[Walter  de  Dowai.  Writ  or  Livery  of  Seisin.] 
Walterius  de  Dowai  [tenet  in  Waleton]  II.  hidas  de  rege,  sic 
elicit.  Sed  homines  de  hundredo  dicunt  se  nunquam  vidisse  brevem 
vel  nuncium  regis  qui  eum  inde  saisisset.  Hoc  autem  testantur 
quod  quidam  homo  banc  terrain  ten  ens  et  quo  vellet  abire  valens, 
submisif  se  in  nianu  Walterii  pro  defensione  sui.     lb. 


[Duband.     Writ  or  Livery  of  Seisin.] 

Hanc  terrain  [in  Sudtune]  saisivit  Durandus  et  dicunt  homines 
quod  injuste  habet,  nam  nemo  eorum  brevem  regis  vel  liberatorem 
vidit.     lb.  36  b. 

[An  Officer  v.  Earl  of  Mortain.] 

Prsefectus  calumniatur  ad  opus  hujus  manerii  [Sudburne]  unam 
virgatam  terrse  et  pascuam  quam  vocant  Dunam,  quae  reddit  XV. 
solidos.  Comes  Moritonus  tenet.  Sed  hundred  testatur  quod  in 
dominica  firma  regis  jacere  debeat,  ei  ibi  fuit  tempore  regis 
Edwardi  et  pratum  in  eodem.     lb.  39  b, 


APPENDIX.  £95 

[Abbot  of  St.  Pbteb.] 
De   isto    manerio   [Aultone]    fcestatur  comitatus  quod    injuste 
accepit  [abbas  Sancti  Petri]  pro  excambio  domus  regis,  quia  domus 
fiat  regis.     lb.  43. 

[Monks  of  Winchester.] 

Hoc  manerium  [Helingey]  calumpniantur  monachi  do  epis- 
copatu  Wintoniensi,  eo  quod  Imma  regina  1  dedit  illud  secclesiaa 
Sancti  Petri  et  Sancti  Suuithuni,  et  tunc  de  medietate  monachos 
saisivit.  Aliam  vero  medietatem  Uluuardo  in  vita  sua  tantum  ita 
dimisit,  quatinus  post  obitum  suum  ipse  sepeliendus  et  manerium 
rediret  ad  monasterium.  Atque  ita  Uluuard  de  monacbis  partem 
manerii  tenuit,  donee  mortuus  fuit  tempore  regis  Willebni.  Hoc 
sic  attestatur  Elsi  abbas  de  Ramesy,  et  totum  hundret.     lb.  43  b. 

[Hugh  v.  Tuestin,  the  Chamberlain.] 

Ad  opus  bujus  manerii  [Holstune]  calumpniatur  ipse  Hugo 
III.  masuras,  et  angulum  prati  et  unam  virgatam  et  V.  acras  terras 
super  Turstinum  camerarium.  De  hoc  fert  testimonium  totum 
hundred,  quod  antecessors  ejus  inde  saisiti  erant  et  tenentes  die 
quo  rex  Edwardus  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus.     lb.  45. 

[Monks  of  Winchester  v.  Ralph  de  Mortemer.] 

Isdem  Radulfus  [de  Mortemer]  tenet  in  Suantune  unam  hidam. 
Cbeping  tenuit  de  episcopo  et  de  monacbis  [Wintoniensibus]  et 
semper  fuit  de  monasterio,  sed  concessa  est  eidem  in  vita  sua 
tantum  tenere,  et  post  mortem  ejus  ad  aecclesiam  debebat  redire. 
Hoc  monacbi  dicunt,  sed  hundred  nil  scit  de  conventione,  sed  hoc 
scit  quia  de  monasterio  fuit,  et  geld  non  dedit  nee  modo  facit,  et 
nesciunt  quare  remansit.     lb.  47. 

[Abbess  of  St.  Mary.] 

Hoc  manerium  [Icene]  calumpniatur  abbatissa  Sanctse  Maria?,  et 
totum  hundred  et  insuper  totus  vicecomitatus  testimonium  perbibet 
quod  in  abbatia  fuit  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  et  regis  Willelmi, 
et  juste  esse  debet.     lb.  48. 

1  Mother  of  Edward  the  Confessor. 


296  appendix. 

[Eldred,  Beotheb  of  Oda.] 
.Eldred  frater  Ode  calumpniatur  imam  virgatam  terrse  de  hoc 
manerio  [Cuntune  .  ei  dicit  se  earn  tenuisse  'lit'  qua  rex  Edwardus 
i'uit  vivus  et  mortuus,  el  disaisitus  i'uit  postquam  rex  Willelmus 
man'  transiit,  et  ipse  dirationavit  coram  regina.  Inde  est  testis 
ejus  Hugo  de  Port  et  homines  de  toto  hundred.     Il>.  is  1>. 


William  of  0\\\] 
llanc   hidam    [in    Ferlege]    calumpniatur   Willielmus   de    Ow, 
<  1  ici-i ii-  cam  pertinere  ad  suum  manerium.    Sed  homines  de  hundred 
non  testantur  quod  habere  debeat,  sed  praeoccupatam  esse  super 
regem.     lb. 

[ODO    V.    <i  EOI  I'  KEY.] 

Hanc  hidam  [in  Basingestoc]  calumpniatur  Odo  de  Wine,  dicens 
se  illam  hahuisse  in  vadimonio  pro  X.  librisdeAlsi  concessione  regis 
Willelmi,et  ideo  injuste  cam  perdit.  Goisfridus  vero  tenet  de  rege, 
pro  servitio  quod  fecit  Mathildi  ejus  filise.     lb.  19. 


The  King's  Officer.] 

De  hoc  manerio  [Acangre]  calumpniatur  propositus  regis 
dimidiam  hidam  ad  pasturam  bourn  regis.  Scira  vein  testatur 
quod  non  potest  habere  pasturam  nee  pasnagiam  de  silva  regis 
sicut  calumpniatur,  nisi  per  vicecomitem.     lb.  49  b. 


[Land  of  Alvin.     Seal  on  Livery  of  Seisin.] 

Dicunt  homines  de  hundred,  quod  nunquam  viderunt  sigillum 
vel  legatum  re^-is  qui  saississet  Aluuinum  antecessorem  ejus  qui 
modo  tenet  de  isto  manerio  [Tederlec], el  nisi  rex  testificetur.  nichi] 
hal.ci  ibi.     lb.  50. 

'I'm    King  '•.  Sawin.    Skal.] 
llanc  dimidiam   hidam  [in    Rocheborne]    dicunt    ministri  vice- 
CCmitis    pertinere   ad    firmam    regis.      Sed    hundred   et    scira  dicunt 
quod  rex  Edwardus  dedit  huic  [Sawino],  et  inde  habet  sigillum 

ejus.     lb. 


APPENDIX.  297 

The  King  v.  Henei    de  F.] 

Henricus  de  Fereires  tenet  in  hoc  manerio  [Sudtone]  de 
dominica  terra  regis  ('XX.  ai  ras  terrse,  ct  III.  acras  prati,  ideo  quia 
Godricus  antecessor  suus  cum  vicecomes  esset5  aravit  earn  terrain 
nun  suis  caruccis,  sed  ut  dicit  hundred  ad  curiam  regis  pertinere 
juste.     Godric  occupavit  enira  injuste.     lb.  57  b. 

[Same  Parties.] 

Henricus  tenet  ibi  [in  Henret]  I.  hidam  quio  fuerat  in  ffrma 
regis.  Godricus  tenuit.  Aluricus  de  Taceham  dicit  se  vidisse 
brevem  regis  quod  cam  dederit  feminae  Godrici  in  dono,  eo  quod 
nutriebat  canes  suos.  Sed  nemo  est  in  hundred  qui  brevem  viderit 
prater  Aluricum.     lb. 

[Bishop  Osbeen.] 
Osberus   episcopus    tenet   in    dominio   Bocheland,   in   Gamesfel 
hundred,    de   episcopatu   suo   ut   dicit.      Uluricus    tempore    regis 
Edwardi  ibi  mansit.     Unde  judicium  non  dixerunt,  sed  ante  regem 
ut  judicet  dimiserunt.     lb.  58  b. 

[The  King  v.  Heney  de  F.] 
Hanc  terrain  [in  Spersolt]  dicit  Henricus  [de  F.]  fuisse  Godrici 
antecessoris  sui,  sed  sicut  hundred  testatur  Godricus  earn  occupavit 
super  Willelmum  regem,  post  bellum-  de  Hastinges,  nee  unquam 
tenuit  tempore  Edwardi  regis.     lb.  60  b. 

[The  King  v.  Azoe.  Weit  or  Livery  of  Seisin.] 
Hanc  terrain  [in  Ardintone]  tenet  isdem  Azov  de  Roberto,  sed 
homines  de  hundred  testificantur  eum  de  rege  debere  tenere,  quam 
rex  Willelmus  apud  Windesores  ei  reddidit,  et  brevem  suum  inde 
ei  dedit.  Robertus  vero  tenet  injuste.  Nemo  enim  eorum  vidit 
brevem  regis  vel  ex  parte  ejus  hominem  qui  eum  inde  saisisset. 
lb.  62. 

[Bishop  Osbern.     Proof  by  Chartees.] 
De  hoc  manerio   [Critetone]  ostendit  Osbernus  episcopus  cartas 
suas,  quae  testantur  a3cclesiam  Sancti  Petri  inde  fuisse  saisitam  ante- 
quam   rex  Edwardus  regnaret.     Insuper  tempore   regis   Willclmi 
diratiocinavit  coram  baronibus  regis,  esse  suam.     lb.  lUl  b. 


£98  APPENDIX. 

[HOMAGEBS    OF    K.UIL    EUSTACE.] 

Banc  terrain  [in  Horemede]  tenuit  Wluuard  homo  Asgari  stalri. 
Hanc  reclamant  homines  Eustachii  comitis,  de  qua  fuerunt  saisiti 
per  II.  annos  postquam  ipse  comes  ad  liunc  honorem  venit,  ut 
homines  de  hundret  testantur.     lb.  138  b. 


[A   SOKEMAK   r.  TlIE    KlNG.] 

Hanc  terrain  [in  Stuterehele]  sumpsit  Petrus  vicecomes  de  isto 
sochomanno  regis  Willelmi  in  manu  ejusdem  regis,  pro  forisfactura 
de  gildo  regis  se  non  reddidisse  ut  homines  sui  dieunt.  Sed  homines 
de  scira  non  port  int  vicecomiti  testimonium,  quia  semper  quieta 
f'uit  de  gildo  et  dealiis  ergaregem,  quamdiu  tenuit,  testante  hundret. 
lb.  111. 

[Karl  Alan  v.  Hardwin.     Vouchee  to  Warrant.] 

De  hac  virga  [in  Berchedene]  reclamat  Alanus  comes  III.  partes 
se  habere  juste  debere.  Nam  inde  erat  saisitus  quandomare  nuper- 
rime  transivit,  ut  homines  de  hundred  sibi  portant  testimonium. 
Sed  Harduinus  reclamat  Petrum  vicecomitem  ad  protectorem  et 
liberatorem  jussu  episcopi  Baiocensis,  quod  ei  liberavit  pro  excambio. 
[*b.  Ill  b. 


[Earl  William.     Writ.] 
Homines  de  comitatu  inquisiti   dixerunt  se   nunquam    vidisse 
brevem  regis  qui  banc  terrain  [in  Estone]  diceret  datam  esse  comiti 
Willelmo.     lb.  164. 


[Church  of  St.  Mary. J 
Eoc  manerium  [Cernei]  calumpniatum  est  ad  secclesiam  Sanctae 
Maria?  de  Ahendone,  sed  omnis  comitatus  testificatus  est  Stigandum 
archiepiscopum  X.  annis  tenuisse  vivente  Edwardo  rege.     lb.  1G9. 


[Abbot  Walter.     Lands  at  Benxixguorth.] 

I  jisaecclesia  [Evesham]  tenet  Till,  hidasad  Beningwrde,  et  quin- 
tam  hidam  tenet  CTrso;  lias  V.  hidas  diratiocinavit  Walterius abbas 
ad  Ildebergam  in  11 II.  [V.P]  Bciris coram  episcopo  Baiocensi  etaliis 
/nil-  regis.     lb.  173  b.     Sue  ante,  p.  20. 


APPENDIX.  299 

[Priests  of  Huntingdon  v.  Earl  Eustace.  Writ  or  Livery 
of  Seisin.] 
I  Mount  homines  qui  juraverunt  in  Huntedune,  quod  secclesia 
Sanctee  Marisede  burgoei  terra  qua  ad  cam  pertinet  fuit  aecclesise 
de  Torny,  sed  abbas  invadiavit  cam  burgensibus.  Rex  Edwardus 
autem  dedit  cam  Vitali  et  Bernardo  presbyteris  suis,  et  ipsi  vendi- 
derunt  Hugoni  camerario  regis  Edwardi.  Hugo  verb  vendidit 
cam  II.  presbyteris  de  Huntedune,  et  habeni  inde  sigillum  regis 
Edwardi.  Eustachius  modo  hubet  earn  sine  liberatorc,  et  sine 
breri  et  sine  saisitore. 


[Bishop  Remigius.     Writ.] 
De  terra  Lcuric  dicunt  quod  fuit  in  soca  regis,  sed  Remigius 
episcopus  ostendit  brevem  regis  Edwardi,  per  quern  Leuricus  cum 
omni  terra   dederit  in   episcopatum   Lincolia?   cum   saca  et  soca. 
lb.  208  b. 

[William  de  C.  v.  Hugh  de  B.] 
In  bac  terra  episcopatus  [LincolieDsis]  reclamat  Willelmus  de 
Caron  LX.  acras  inter  planum  et  silvam  super  Hugonem  de  Belcampo, 
unde  Radulfus  Taillebosc  desaisivit  patrem  ejusdem  Willelmi,  qui 
ipsam  terrain  tenebat  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  ut  homines  de  hun- 
dred dicunt.     lb.  210. 

[Hugh  de  B.  v.  William  de  C] 

Hanc  terrain  de  Tilebroc  reclamat  Hugo  Belcampo  super  Willel- 
mum  et  homines  de  hundred  portant  inde  testimonium,  quod 
Radulfus  Tallebosc  antecessor  ejus  de  ea  per  regem  saisitus  fuit,  et 
earn  tenuit.     lb.  211  b. 


[Alfred  v.  Walter  of  Flanders.] 

Cum  his  III.  hidis  [in  Wilge]  reclamat  Alueredus  super  Walterum 
Flandrensem  dimidiam  hidam,  de  qua  injuste  desaisivit  cum,  ut 
homines  de  hundred  inde  portant  testimonium,  quum  antecessor 
ejus  tempore  regis  Edwardi  inde  saisitus  est,  et  isdem  Alueredus 
postea  fuit  saisitus.  Cum  hac  terra  adhuc  reclamat  isdem  Alue- 
redus super  episcopum  Coustantiensem  silvam  C.  porcis  quam 
babuit  suus  antecessor  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  sed  episcopus  desai- 
sivit cum  injuste,  ut  homines  de  hundred  tcstantur.     lb.  215  b. 


300  APPENDIX. 

W..  rni:  Chamberlain,  v.  Adulf.] 
Cum  hoc  manerio  [Totenehou]  reclamat  W.  camerarius  II.  hidas, 
quas  ejus  antecessor  tenuit  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  sicut   hundred 
testatur,  sed  episcopus   Baiocensis  per  vim  ei  abstulit,  et  Adelulfo 
suo  camerario  dedit.     lb.  216. 


A  in  i.iz  v.  Hugh  de  i'>. 
In  hac  eadem  [terra  in  Oustone]  reclamat  Adeliz  prsedicta  dimi- 
diam  virgatam  ei  XXX.  arras  inter  silvam  et  planum  super  Hugonem 
de  Belcampo,  et  homines  de  hundred  portant  testimonium  quod  hac 
terra  jacuil  tempore  regis  Edwardi  cum  alia  terra  quam  tenet  Ade- 
liz. et  illequi  bane  terrain  tenuit  potuit  dare  vel  vendere  cui  voluit. 
Hanc  terrain  Radulfus  injuste  occupavit,  quando  vicecomes  fuit. 
lb.  217  b. 

[Bishop  Wulstan.  Wkit.] 
Briestuinus  tempore  regis  Edwardi  tenuit  in  Alvestone  VII.  hidas 
et  dimidiam.  De  hac  terra  habuit  Eldred  archiepiscopus  socam  et 
sacam,  et  tol  et  teim,  et  cerset,  et  omnes  alias  forsfacturas  praeter 
illas  I1II.  quas  rex  hahet  per  totum  regnum.  Hoctestantur  lilii  ejus 
Leuuinus,  Edmar  et  alii  HIT.  sed  nesciunt  de  quo  an  desecclesia  an 
de  comite  Leuric  cui  serviebat  hanc  terrain  tenuit.  Dicunt  tamen 
quod  ipsi  tenuerunt  earn  de  L.  comite,  et  quo  volebant  cum  terra 
poteranl  se  vertere.  Reliquas  autem  VII.  hidas  et  dimidiam  tenuit 
Britnoldus  et  Aluui  tempore  regis  Edwardi.  Sed  comitatus  nescit 
de  quo  tenuerint.  Wlstanus  episcopus  dicit  se  bane  terrain  deplaci- 
tasse  coram  regina  Mathilde  in  praesentia  IIIJ.  vicecomitatuum,  et 
inde  habet  breves  regis  Willelmi,  et  testimonium  comitatus  Waruuic. 
lb.  2:38  b. 

[Chubcb  of  St.  Mary  v.  Robebt.] 
In  hoc  manerio  [Brunfelde]  tempore  regis  Edwardi  eranl  XX. 
hidae,  et  totum  habebant  XII.  canonici  ipsius  secclesiae  [Sanctaa 
Mariae  ,  Unus  eorum  Spirtes  nomine  tenebat  solus  X.  hidas.  Sed 
.•inn  fuisset  exulatuB  ah  Anglia,  dedit  rex  Edwardus  has  X.  hidas 
Roberto  filio  Wimarch  sicut  canonico.  Robertus  vero  dedit  eandem 
ten-am  cuidam  sun  genero.  Quod  cum  canonici  indicassent  regi, 
confestim  praecepil  ad  secclesiam  ten-am  reverti,  tantummodo  indu- 
cians  donee  ad  curiam  instantis  Natalis  Domini  Roberto  juberei   ul 

ro  suu  ten-am  aliam  provideret.      Ipse  .-lutein  rex  in  ipsis  I'estis 


APPENDIX.  301 

diebus  obiit,  etex  oo  usque  nunc  secclesia  terram  perdit.  Ham' 
tenet  modo  Robertus  decomite  Rogerio,  et  vastaest  et  vasta  inventa 
est.     II,.  252  b. 

[Bishop  of  Chester.] 
In  manerio  Roberti    lilii    Hugonis   calumpniatur    episcopus  de 
Cestre  II.  bidas  quas  do  episcopatu  erant  tempore  Cnut  regis,  et 
comitatua  ei  testificatur,  quia  Sanctus  Cedda  injuste  perdit.  lb.  263. 

[Ilbert  v.  Roger  of  Poitou.] 
De  hac  terra   [in  Cropbille]  fuit  saisitus  Ilbertus  de  Laci,  sed 
quando  Rogerius  Pictaviensis  accepit  terram,  saisivit  istud  manerium 
super    [lbertum.     Wapentac   portat  testimonium  Ilbertum  fuisse 
saisitum,  modo  est  in  manu  regis.     lb.  291. 

[Abbot  of  St.  Peter  v.  Baldwin.] 
Hanc  [terrain  in  Dodintune]  tenet  Balduinus  de  rege,  abbas  vero 
clamat  ad  opus  Sancti  Petri,  testimonio bominum  totius  comitatus. 
lb.  370. 

[The  King  v.  A  certain  Clerk.] 
Qui  dam  clericus  comitis  E.  invaserat  XLII.  acras,  et  tenebat  illas 
ad  feudum  comitis  E.,  sed  hundred  eas  testatur  ad  Neuport,  et  ita 
modo  habet  rex.     Clericus  vero  judicatus  est  in  misericordia  regis, 
et  de  omni  cessu,  et  de  corpore  suo.     2  Doomsday,  7. 

[The  King  v.  Church  of  St.  Peter.     False  Writ.] 

Hec  terra  [in  Phantuna]  calumpniata  est  ad  opus  regis  quod  per 
falsum  brevem  venerit  ad  ecclesiam  [Sancti  Petri].     lb.  14. 

[Church  of  Ely  v.  Odo.    Voucher  to  Warrant.] 
Odo  homo  Suani  accepit  X.  acras,  quae  fuerunt  de  ecclesia  [de 
Eli],  et  hundred  hoc  testatur,  sed  vocat  dominum  suumad  tutorem. 
lb.  18  b. 

[A  certain  Freeman  v.  Torold.] 
Quidam  liber  homo  tenuit  in  Eilesforda  dimidiam  hidam,  quern  l 
invasit  ^Toroldus  sicut  aliam  terram,  et    quando  recepit,  dimidia 


quam. 


•'5l>:>  APPENDIX. 

carucata,  modo  nulla,  sod  potest  esse,  et  hundred  nescit  quomodo 
habet  hanc  terram,  et  quia  neque  legatus  neque  alius  homo  venit 
ox  parte  sua  qui  derationasset  hanc  terram,  ideo  est  in  manu  regis 

cum  alia.     lb.  25  b. 

[RaNULF    PlPEEELL  r.   A  CEETilM    SOLDIEE.      VotTCHEE  TO 

Wabb  ant.  J 

Ranulfus  Piperellus  calumpniatur  dimidiam  hidam,  et  XVIII. 

acras  quejacent  ad  ecclesiam  hujus  manerii  [Borham]  et  dimidiam 

ecclesiam,  et  IngeMcus  [invasor]  non  fuit  saisitus,  sod  comes  E. 

dedit  cuidam  suo  militi  undo  revocat  earn  ad  defensorem.     lb.  31  b. 


[."Manor  of  Legra.     Land  of  Scalfin.] 

Tstud  quoque  manerium  [Legra]  tempore  regis  Edwardi  dedit 
Esgarus  Haroldo,  et  Heroldus  iterum  dedit  cuidam  suo  huscarlo, 
nomine  Scalpiuo,  ct  isto  Scalpinus  dedit  uxori  sua)  in  dote,  viden- 
tibus  11.  hominibus,  scilicet  Rogero  marescalco,  etquodam  Anglico, 
et  hoc  testatur  hundred,  quod  audierunt  recognoscere  Scalpino,  et 
postquara  rex  venit  in  banc  ton-am  tenuit  ipso,  donee  ivit  ubi 
mortuus  fuit  in  Ebroica,  in  utlagaria.     lb.  59. 


[Fee  of  Geoffrey  de  M.] 

Hec  III.  maneria  [in  Essexa]  prsecepit  rex  per  Robertum  de 
Oilleio,  ut  Hugo  teneret  de  Goisfrido  de  Magnavilla,  si  ipse  G. 
posset  ea  deratiocinari  ad  suum  Eeudum,  et  antequam  (J.  dera- 
tionaret  ea  pertinere  suo  feudo,  Hugo  ea  tenuit  de  Goisfrido. 
lb.  61. 

[Certain   Peeemen.     Claim  of  Aitakd.] 
Ex  bis  [liberis  hominibus]  tenuit  Roger  |  Bigot  J  comes  1 II.  inte- 
gros  cum  terra,  XII.  acris  et  dimidia,  quando  so  forisfecit,  modo 
tenet  Aitardus  bomo  Rogeri  Bigot,  et  reclamai  ex  feudo  epi 
Baiocensis.     Sed  Lste  Aitardus  non  habei  ab  antecessore  suo  nisi 
in  uno  dimidio  commendationem,  teste  hundret.     [b.  1-1. 

[Tahald  v.  Godhic] 
Hunc  [liberum  hominem  presl  yterum  |  tenuit  Leustan  antecessor 
Tiheli,  tempore  regis   Edwardi,  et    Radulfus  eum  tenuit    quando 


APPENDIX.  303 

forisfecit,  et  est  de  soca  de  Caustuna,  ^modo  cum  tenet  Godrieus. 
Sed  Taraldas  homo  Willelmi  de  Warrena  eum  saisivit  super  regem 

et  tenuit  per  ties  annos,  mo.do  derationatus  est  super  emu,  et  reddit 
Turaldus  V.  solidos  de  catallo  regis  et  dedit  vadem  de  justitia 
facienda.     Ik  133. 


[ROGEB    V.    AlVIN  DE    T.      WRIT   OR   LlVERY   OF    SEISIN.] 

Hals  tenuit  Alestan,  teinnus  Heroldi  tempore  regis  Edwardi, 
I.  carucata  terrse,  et  XL.  acras.  .  .  .  Hie  Alestanus  commendavit  se 
Alwino  de  Tedford,  tempore  regis  Willelmi,  et  ex  hoc  erat  saisitus 
quando  rex  Willelmus  dedit  Rogero  terram  illius,  sed  hundred  non 
vidit  brevem  vel  liberatorem  quod  daret  Alvino.     lb.  181  b. 


[Godric  v.  Roger  Sad.] 
In  Hethingham  I.  liber  homo  Bondo,  XXX.  acrse  terre,  quern 
tenet  Rogerus  Sad  feudum  Ulchetelli,  sed  ipse  Ulehetel  habuit 
dimidiam  commendationem  de  illo,  tempore  regis  Edwardi  et  de 
uxore  ipsius  totam  commendationem,  et  Godrieus  dapifer  eum 
calumpniatur  quod  eum  tenuit  quando  Radubfus  comes  forisfecit,  et 
hundret  testatur  quod  serviebat  Godrico  sed  nesciunt  quomodo. 
lb.  182  b. 

[Aitard  v.  Roger  Bigot.] 

Modo  tenet  Rogerus  Bigot  [I.  liberum  hominem  nomine  Gert], 
et  revocat  ad  feudum  suorum  liberorum  ex  dono  regis,  et  Aitardus 
contradicit  hundret  qui  hoc  testatur  sed  Meinardus  affirmat  eum 
hundreto.     lb.  185  b. 

[Roger  Bigot.] 
Modo  Rogerus  Bigot  revocat  [terram  in  Sterestuna]  ad  feudum 
liberorum  suorum  ex  dono  regis.  Sed  hundred  testatur  quod  quando 
Ricardus  Punnatus  erat  pnepositus  in  Hersam,  pertinebatin  Hersam 
sed  ille  qui  modo  tenet,  tunc  subprapositus  Ricardi,  in  Ersam,  abs- 
tulit,  et  teste  hundredo  et  dedit  censum  in  Ersam,  XX.  solidos,  et 
VI.  d.  unoquoque  anno  de  hac  terram,'  nominatim,  et  de  alia, 
sed  hoc  anno  non  reddidit,  et  W.  de  Noiers  habuit  hucusque  cen- 
sum.    lb.  186. 

1  terra. 


304  APPENDIX. 

[A   CERTAIN    PeEEMAN.      PROOF    BY   ORDEAL   OFFERED.] 

Unum  ex  illis  septem  [liberis]  de  Taseburc  calumpniatur  Henner, 
et  quidam  Anglicus  suus  homo  ex  hoc  offert  judicium,  quod  suus 
antecessor  erat  ex  eo  saisitus  die  qua  rex  Edwardus  vivus  fuit  et 
mortuuSj  et  hoc  contradicil  totus  hundred  vel  hello  vel  judicio,  ex 
hoc  dedit  ille  Ansdicus  vadem.     lb.  190. 


[Land  of  William  de  S.     The  King  vouched  to  Warrant.] 

Ilanc  terrain  [in  Ecleuuartuna]  tenuit  Rafridus.  et  comes  Radul- 
Eus  derationavit  dimidiam,  et  tenuit  ea  die  qua  forisEecit.  Modo 
ram  tenet  LTroius  homo  Rafridi  ad  f'eudum  Willelmi  de  Scohies  el 

revocat  resrem  ad  tutorem.     lb.  221  b. 


[Roger  Bigot  v.  Ralph.] 

Hanc  terrain  tenet  Radulfus  in  Neketuna  sed  non  jacuit  in 
Neketuna  tempore  regis  Edwardi  nee  tempore  Heroldi,  et  Rogerus 
Bigot  earn  revocat  de  dono  regis,  et  revocat  liberatorem.     lb.  236. 


[Ralph  de  W.  v.  Bodin  de  W.] 

Ilii  [XIIII.  liberi  homines]  fuerunt  commendati  antecessor] 
l!;nlul!i  de  Waer,  post  Iiberati  sunt  Bodin  de  Uer  ex  parte  regis. 
Postea  derationavii  cos  ad  suum  feudum.  Radulfus.  et  quum  foris- 
feci<  tenebal  cos,  Kerueus  de  Uer  de  illo.  Hoc  testatur  hundret. 
lb.  212. 

[Bainard  v.  Robert,  Son  of  C] 

Rothertus,  filius  Corbutionis  calumpniatur  hanc  terrain  [in 
Sjatagrava],  ex  liberatione  sed  Bainardus  primum  fuit  saisitus.  et 
post  Rotbertue  et  hundred  nescit  quomodo.     lb.  253  b. 


[Situation  of  Freemen.] 
De  istis  [XVII.  liberis  hominibus]  calumpniatur  I.  serviens  regis, 
ad  Eeudum  Radulfi  comitis,  XIII.  el  dimidium,  quos  tenebal  quando 
se  forisfecil  quocumque,  judicio  judicatus  et  hoc  hundred  testatur. 
ct  tenenl  LXXX.  acras  terre,  et  II.  acras  prati,  et  reddunt,  in 
Snaringa,  XVII.  solidos,  el  [III.  d.     [b.  258. 


APPENDIX.  305 

[Isaac  v.  A  certain  Nun.] 
In  Sinthinga,  oalumpniatur  quedam  paupera  monialis  IIII.  acras 
terre  quas  ilia  tenet  sub  Radulfo  tamen1  ante  et  postquam  se  foris- 
fecisse  et  ita  testatur  hundred,  et   Isac  revocat  ex  dono  regis,  ad 
feudum  suum.     U>.  264  b. 


[A  Free  Woman  v.  Aitard.  Proof  by  Ordeal  offered.] 
In  Brambetuna  tenet  Aitardus  de  Bogero  XVI.  acras,  quod 
tenuit  libera  femina  commendatione  Edrici,  et  R.  comes  tenebat 
quando  forisfecit,  teste  hundred,  et  Robertus  Blundus  postea  in 
manu  regis,  et  inodo  tenet  Aitardus  homo  Rogeri  Bigot  commen- 
datione postquam  Rogerus  forisfecit.  Ita  hundred  esse  testatur,  et 
ilia  femina  otfert  judicium  quod  verum  est  teste  hundred,  et  Aitar- 
dus contradicit,  et  sub  ea  sunt  II.  integri  liberi  homines.    lb.  277  b. 


[Roger  Bigot  and  Godric.    Proof  by  Ordeal  or  Battle 

offered.] 
In  Bichesle  I.  liber  homo  Anslec  commendatus,  cum  dimidio 
libero  tempore  regis  Edwardi,  de  XVII.  acris.  .  .  .  Istum  servavit 
Rogerus  Bigot  in  manu  regis  sicut  dicit  et  reddit  censum  in  hun- 
dred, sed  hundred  testatur,  quod  Godricus  dapifer  tenuit  sub  rege, 
ad  feudum  Badulfi  comitis  antequam  forisfecit  I.  anno,  et  post 
per  II.  annos  ex  dono  regis,  et  contra,  homo  Rogeri  Bigot  contra- 
dicit juditio  vel  bello.     lb. 

[The  King  v.  Burchard.  Proof  offered  "omni  modo."] 
Et  hundred  testatur  quod  vere  rex  et  comes  habuit  socam  et 
sacam  [in  Melnessa]  tempore  regis  Edwardi  sed  homines  illius  ville 
testantur  quod  Burchardus  similiter  habuit  socam  de  liberis  homi- 
nibus  sicuti  de  suis  villains,  et  non  habet  aliquid  testimonium  post 
se,  et  tamen  volunt  probare  omni  modo.     lb.  285  b. 


[Aluric  v.  Roger  Bigot.     The  King  vouched  to  Warrant.] 

Et  quando  Robertus  Malet  habuit  [Scoteleiam  et  Bercolt],  redde- 

bat  totum  simul  LX.  libras  ad  pensum,  et  VIII.  libras  ad  numerum 

1  tarn. 


306  APPENDIX. 

de  gersumma,  et  tantundem  modo  reddebat  Rogero  Bigoto  ut  ipse 
propositus  dicit,  sod  Rogevus  dicit  quod  reddebat  plus  XL.  solidos 
ad  numerum,  et  unam  marcam  auri,  sed  Aluricus  prsepositus  con- 
tradicit,  et  Rogerus  vult  probare  per  illos  homines  qui  ad  suas  con- 
ventiones  fuerunt.  Modo  reddit  ille  Aluricus  LX.  libras  adpensum, 
ct  sic  tenet  de  rege  tali  conventione  quod  debet  facere  regi  LX. 
libras  de  proficuo,  et  ex  hoc  revocat  regem  ad  warantum,  sic  ipse 
dicit,  et  dicit  etiam  quod  non  remanet  in  eo  quod  non  tacit  illud 
proficuum.     lb.  287  b. 


[Eduic.  a  Fbeeman.  Pkoof  by  Ordeal  offered.  Vouchee 
to  Warrant.] 
Hunc  Edricum1  saisivit  rex  Edwardus  in  sua  manu  postea  non 
vidit  hundret  ut  ad  Edricum  dominum  suum  rediret,  sed  tunc 
ipse  dicit  et  offert  juditium  quod  rediit,  et  liberos  homines  quos 
habet  sub  se  commendatos  tenet,  et  ex  eis  revocat  Robcrtum 
warantum.     lb.  311. 


[Robert  Fardenc.  Peoof  against  the  Hundred  offered 
"  omnibus  legubu8."] 
Hanc  terram  [in  Cebbenhala]  calumpniatur,  Robertus  Fardenc 
bomo  Godrici  dapiferi,  ad  manerium  regis  do  Melnosam,  et  dicit 
quod  Galterus  Dedol2  tenuit  quando  forisfecit,  et  hoc  vult  probare 
contra  totum  hundred,  omnibus  legibus.     lb.  371. 


[Abbot  of  St.  Edmund  (?)  and  Robert.] 
Eodem  tempore  fuerunt  furati  equi  inventi,  in  domo  istius 
Brungari,  ita  quod  abbas  cuius  fuit  soca  et  saca  et  Rodbertus  qui 
habuit  commendationem  super  istum  [Brungarum],  venerunt  de 
hoc  furto  ad  placitum  et  sic  hundred  testatur.  Discesserunt 
amicabiliter  sine  iuditio  quod  vidissed  hundret.      Il>.  101  b. 

1  Edric  bad  commended  himself  with  bis  lands  and  men  to 
another  Edric,  who  had  been  outlawed  by  Edward  the  Confessor, 
and  afterwards  pardoned  and  restored  to  his  rights;  permission 
being  given  all  bis  men  to  return.  It  was  alleged  that  the  above- 
mentioned  Edric  had  not  returned.  2  do  Dol? 


APPENDIX.  '  J  < » ? 

[Ranulf  v.  Ralph.] 

Hie  Brictmarus  [liber  homo  commendatus]  habuit  plures  terms 
ei  quedam  pars  fuit  liberataex  parte  regis  Ingelrico.  Et  alio  partes, 
Randulfo  fratri  Ilgeri,  et  tertia  pars  Radulfo  Pinello,  et  in  ista 
tertia  parte  fuit  ista  supradicta  terra  deliberata  Radulfo  sicut  ipse 
dieit  et  idem  perhibet  hoc  testimonium,  quod  ipse  fuit  saisitus  in- 
primis,  set  utrum  ex  parte  regis  necnon  fuissel  saisitus  illud  igno- 
rant, et  dicunt  etiam,  quod  istam  terrain  Randulfus  calumpniavit 
super  Radulfum,  et  vicecomes  Rogerus  denominavit  illis  constitu- 
tum  tempus  M.  ut  ambo  adfuissent.  Ranullb  adveniente,  defuit 
Radulfus,  et  idcirco  diiudicaverunt  homines  hundreti,  Rannult'um 
esse  saisitum,  qui  modo  tenet  set  Radulfus  Pinel  negat  quod  non 
fuit  summonitus  de  eo  placito.     lb.  424. 

[RlCHAED   DE   CUBCI  V.  THE    FATHER    OF    R.   M.       FlXE.      TEMP. 

Hex.  I.] 
Domus  Siwardi  Lenerunsonne  reddebat  tempore  regis  Edwardi 
consuetudinem.  Modo  tenet  Robertus  Maledoctus,  et  facit  simi- 
liter consuetudinem.  Sed  pater  ipsius  Roberti  praeoccupavit  vicum 
I.  in  ilia  domo,  unde  Ricardus  de  Curci  eum  implacitavit,  qui  erat 
tunc  justicia  regis  et  tunc  antea  justiciam  regis  de  hoc  placito  fecit 
finem  et  hec  domus,  et  alie  sue  domus  reddunt  VI,  lib.  et  XVI.  sol. 
4  Doomsday,  531. 


D. 

APPEAL  OF  TREASON. 

[The  King  v.  Bishop  William  of  St.  Caeilef.     1088.]  ' 

[The  king  (William  Rufus)  having  disseised  the  bishop  of  St. 
Cavilef  of  his  lands,  and  the  lands  of  his  church,  for  alleged 
treason,  the  bishop  sends  letters  to  the  king,  asking  for  restitution, 
but  without  success  ;  the  king  insisting  that  the  bishop  shall  first 
purge  himself  of  the  charge  of  treason,  and  the  bishop  refusing. 
Afterwards  in  a  personal  interview  with  the  king  (held  under 
promise  of  safety)  the  bishop  oilers  to  purge  himself  of  the  "crimes 
and  perjury"  charged  upon  him,  but  the  offer  is  refused,  because  it 
is  made  "  recto  judicio  mei  ordinis ;"  that  is,  the  accused  oilers  to 
purge  himself  as  a  bishop,  and  the   king  demands  that  he  shall 


1  1  Monasticon,  241—250  (ed.  1840),  abridged. 
x  2 


308  APPENDIX. 

purge  himself  " laicaliter."  In  a  letter  sent  to  the  king  after  this 
interview,  the  bishop  says:  "Si  adliuc  in  sententia  ilia,  ut  me 
purgare  debeam  laieo  rnoi-e  perseveratis,  de  hoc  prius  paratus  sum 
recto  judieio  judicari,  ea  quid  em  condicione,  ut  si  quis  me  in  justo 
judicio  opprimere  voluerit,  securitate  predicte  pacis  conservata, 
liceat  mihi  contradicere  secundum  recta  judicia  mei  ordinis  in  eo 
loco  ubi  canonice  judicatutn  fuerit,  et  quiequid  ibi  recte  judicabitur, 
ex  toto  profiteor  me  sequi,  sive  carcerali  pena  cvuciari,  seu  honoris 
dignitate  privari."  The  king  replies  by  seizing  the  messenger  and 
sending  his  army  against  the  bishop.  After  ravaging  the  country, 
the  king's  generals  arrange  a  safe  conduct  for  the  bishop  through 
the  lines  to  the  King's  Court;  which  was  then  in  attendance  upon 
the  king,  aiding  him  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  set  on  foot 
at  the  beginning  of  his  reign.  The  court  consisted  of  the  king's 
retinue  of  great  men,  archbishop  Lanfranc,  archbishop  Thomas,  the 
bishops,  earls,  barons,  and  officers  of  the  army.  After  entering  the 
court,  the  bishop  arises,  and,  addressing  the  king,  prays  to  be  re- 
stored to  the  enjoyment  of  his  bishopric,  of  which  he  has  been 
deprived,  as  he  says,  "  sine  judicio."  He  is  told  that  he  must  first 
answer  the  king.  This  he  refuses  to  do,  and  claims  exemption  as 
an  ecclesiastic  from  trial  by  the  court.  The  record  proceeds  :]  Tunc 
Hugo  de  Bello-Monte  ex  precepto  regis  surgens  dixit  episcopo, 
"  Rex  te  appellat,  quod  cum  ipse  audivit  quod  inimici  sui  super  cum 
venicbant,  et  homines  sui,  episcopus  scilicet  Baiocensis,1  et  Rogerus 
comes  et  alii  plures  regnum  suum  pariter  sibi  et  coronam  auferre 
volebant,  el  ipse  per  consilium  tuum  contra  illos  equitabat :  ipse 
te,  me  audiente,  summonuit,  ut  cum  eo  equitares,  tu  vero  respon- 
disti  ei,  te  cum  septem  militibus,  quos  ibi  habebas,  libenter  iturum, 
it  pro  pluribus  ad  castellum  tuum  sub  festinacione  missurum,  et 
postea  fugisti  de  curia  sua,  sine  ejus  licentia,  et  quosdafn  de  familia 
sua  tecum  adduxisti,  et  ita  in  necessitate  sua  defecisti,  et  modo  vult 
ut  inde  sibi  facias  quod  curia  sua  judicabit,  et  si  necesse  fuerit 
postea  te  pluribus  appellavit."  [The  bisho])  persists  in  refusing  to 
he  tried  on  the  charge  until  the  king  first  hears  his  complaint  for 
the  disseisin  of  his  dignities  and  temporalities.  The  question  is 
then  taken  into  consideration  on  suggestion  of  the  bishop  of 
Coutances  whether  the  king  ought  first  to  hear  the  accused  ;  the 
latter  retiring  with  his  retainers  until  a  decision  is  made  by  the 
court.     A  conclusion   having  been  reached,  the  bishop  returns,  and 


1  Odo,   bishop   of   Bayeux,  who   had   been   imprisoned    by   his 
brother, the  Conqueror,  was  released  by  the  latter  on  his  deathbed. 


APPENDIX.  309 

answer  is  given  him  by  the  archbishop  of  York  that  he  must  first 
submit  to  trial  upon  the  appeal  of  the  king.  The  bishop  refuses^ 
and  interposes  his  clerical  order  as  a  protection  against  the  pro- 
ceedings, but  archbishop  Lanfranc  replies  :]  "  Nos  non  de  episcopio 
sod  de  tuo  te  fedo  judicamus,  et  hoc  modo  judicavimus  Baiocensem 
episcopum  ante  patrem  hujus  regis  de  fedo  suo,1  nee  rex  vocabat 
earn,  episcopum  in  placito  illo,  sed  fratrem  et  comitem."  Et  epis- 
copus  ait,  "  Doinine  archiepiscope,  ego  nullam  feci  hodie  men- 
tionem  vol  fedum  habere  me  dixi,  sed  de  episcopii  mci  dissaisione 
conquestus  sum  et  conqueror,"  et  archiepiscopus,  "Si  nunquam, 
inquit,  audiam  te  loqui  de  fedo,  scio  te  tamen  magnum  fedum 
habuisse,  et  inde  te  judicavimns."  [The  bishop  now  alleges  an 
appeal  to  the  pope.]  Cumque  episcopus  cgrederetur  et  vocatus 
regrederetur,  Hugo  de  Bello-Montesurgens  dixit  episcopo,  "Domine 
episcope,  regis  curia  et  barones  isti  vobis  pro  justo  judicant,  quando 
sibi  vos  respondere  non  vultis  de  hiis  de  quibus  vos  per  me  appellavit, 
sed  de  placito  suo  invitatis  eum  Romam,  quod  vos  fedum  vestruin 
inde  forisfacitis ;"  et  episcopus  respondit,  "  In  omni  loco  in  quo  non 
violentia  sed  justicia  dominetur,  de  scelere  et  perjurio  me  purgare 
paratus  sum,  et  hoc  quod  hie  pro  judicio  recitasti  in  Romana 
ecclesia  falsum  et  injuste  dictum  esse  monstrabo."  "  Ego,  inquit 
Hugo,  et  compares  mei  parati  sumus  judicium  nostrum  in  hac  curia 
confirmare." 

The  remainder  of  the  case  is  mainly  taken  up  with  angry  alter- 
cations between  the  king  and  the  court  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
bishop  on  the  other,  concerning  the  right  of  the  latter  to  go  to 
Rome  ;  permission  finally  being  granted. 


E. 

MINOR  WRITS  OF  WILLIAM  I.,  WILLIAM  II.,  AND 
HENRY  I. 

[Bishop  Ranulf  v.  Alan  de  Pekcy.     Temp.  Wm.  I.]2 

[The  king's  writ  of  seisin.] 

Willelmus  rex  Anglie,  Thoma  archiepiscopo,  et  Bertraino  de 
Verdon,  et  baronibus  suis  Francis  et  Anglis  de  Everwicscire 
salutem.     Sciatis  me   reddidisse   Ranulpho   episcopo    Dunelmensi 

1    Ante,  p.  292.  -  1  Monasticon,  241  (ed.  1816). 


310  APPENDIX. 

terras  illas  omnes,  de  (juibus  erat  lis  inter  ilium  et  Alanum  de 
Perceio;  ct  nominatim  Lunt  et  Hogura,  et  quicquid  pertinet 
Wellentone,  et  tu  Bertrame  saise  eum  inde.  Testibus  Willelmo 
cancellario,  et  eomite  de  Mellent,  et  Roberto  filio  Hainonis  apud 
S  ilesberiam,  quarto  die  Tbeophauie. 

[Canons  of  St.  Maey.     Temp.  Wm.  II.]  > 

[The  king's  writ  directing  the  defendant  not  to  require  customs 
of  the  plaintiffs.] 
W.  rex.  T.  vicecomiti  salutem.     Mando  tibi,  quod  ego  terrain 
eanonicorum  Sanctae   Maria;   de    Lincolnia   de   omnibus   costuniis 
qui  etas  concedo. 

[Canons  of  St.  Mary.     Temp.  Wm.  II.]2 

[Tbe  king's   writ  directing  that  the  canons  of  St.  Mary  have  tithes 
and  customs.] 

W.  rex  Anglorum,  I.  Tailebois  et  Osberto  clerico  salutem. 
Mando  vobis  et  prrecipio,  ut  canonici  Sancta3  Maria;  de  Lincolia  ita 
bene  babeant  deeimas  suas  et  consuetudines,  sicut  eas  melius  babe- 
bant  tempore  patris  mei.     Teste  R.  episcopo. 

Bishop  Herbert  and  Peter  de  Valonus.  1108.]  3 
[The  king's  writ  confirming  a  concord  between  tbe  parties  as  to 
certain  plough-land  and  pasture.] 
Henricus  rex  Anglorum  Herberto  episcopo  et  Radulfo  de  Bello- 
fago  et  omnibus  baronibus  suis,  Francis  et  Anglis,  de  Soutbfolk  et 
Northfblk,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse  finem  quam  Herbertus 
episcopus  et  Petrus  de  Valoniis  fecerunt  inter  se  de  Binham  et 
Langham  apud  Norwic.  in  mea  curia  ante  me  et  barones  meos,  et 
id  unde  erat  contentio  inter  eo.s,  prsecipio  ut  illud  quod  aratum  fuit 
die  (pia  pater  mens  vivus  et  mortuus  fuit,  sit  modo  arabile :  et 
quod  ilia  die  non  erat  aratum,  sit  modo  communis  pastura  inter 
Langham  et  Binham.  Teste  Rogero  episcopo  Saresberie  et 
Willielmo  eomite  de  Warenna  et  Gilberto  de  Aquila,  Willielmo  de 
Albini,  et  Rogero  filio  Ricardi  et  Gilberto  i'ratre  suo,  et  Otnero  filio 
comitis,  et  Symon  de  Molendinis,  apud  Norwyc.  in  die  Sancti 
Andrea;. 

•  6  Monasticon  (part  3),  1272  (1846).  -  11.. 

•'  :5  Monasticon,  318  (1846). 


APPENDIX.  3]  I 

F. 

CLAIM  OF  INHERITANCE.     VALIDITY  OF  MARRIAGE. 

[Richard  de  Anesty  v.  Mabel  i>k  Franciieville. 
1158—1163.]  ' 

[The  following  is  but  a  portion  of  a  very  lengthy  case.  The 
full  report  is  nearly  as  tedious  as  the  well-nigh  interminable  suit 
itself  must  have  been.  The  extract  given  is  complete  so  far  as  it 
goes,  and  is  sufficient  to  indicate  the  nature  and  peculiarities  of  the 
litigation.  The  report  is  a  detailed  account  of  the  costs  and 
charges  which  the  plaintiff  incurred  in  recovering  certain  land  as 
heir  of  his  uncle,  William  de  Sackville.  The  defendant  was  the 
sole  surviving  child  of  Adeliza  (daughter  of  the  vicecomes  Aufred), 
by  William.  He  had  contracted  a  marriage  with  Adeliza  in  viola- 
tion of  a  previous  engagement  of  marriage  with  Alhreda  de  Tregoz. 
Alhreda  thereupon  instituted  proceedings  in  the  Ecclesiastical 
Court,  and  finally  obtained  a  rescript  from  the  pope  declaring  that 
the  espousals  between  William  de  Sackville  and  herself  having  been 
contracted  "  per  verba  de  praesenti "  constituted  a  marriage,  and 
that  the  second  marriage  was  therefore  void.  Sentence  of  nullity 
was  accordingly  pronounced  at  a  synod  in  London,  and  William 
thereupon  returned  to  Albreda  and  cohabited  with  her  until  his 
death.2] 

Hie  est  sumptus  et  custamentum  quod  ego,  Ricardus  de  Aneste, 
posui,  in  terra  Willielmi  avunculi  mei  perquirenda.  Scilicet  in 
primum,  misi  quendain  hominem  meum  in  Normanniam,  pro  brevi 
regis,  per  quod  posui  adversarios  meos  in  placitum  :  qui  dimidiam 
marcam  dispendidit  in  illo  itinere.  Et  cum  mihi  nuncius  meus 
breve  apportasset,  recepto  brevi,  porrexi  Sarum  cum  brevi,  ut  ibi  in 
sigillo  regime  reverteretur  ;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  duas  marcas 
argenti. 

Et  cum  inde  redissem,  audiens  quod  Radulfus  Brito  deberet  trans- 
fretare,  secutus  sum  eum  usque  Suhamtun,  causa  loquendi  cum  eo, 
ut  perquireret  mihi  breve  regis  ad  archiepiscopum  ;  quia  scivi  quod 
placitum  debebat  in  curia  ejus  divertere  :  et  in  illo  itinere  dis- 
pendidi  viginti  duos  solidos  et  septem  denarios,  et  amisi  unum  pale- 
I'riilum  quern  emeram  pro  quindecim  solidis.  Et  inde  reversus 
cum  brevi  regime,  ivi  Angriam,  et  tradidi  breve  Ricardo  de  Luci. 
Quo  viso  et  audito,  posuit  mihi  diem  placitandi  apud  Norhanton  in 


1  '1  Palgrave,  Commonwealth,  75.  -  ib.  7,  8. 


312  APPENDIX. 

vigilia  Sancti  Andrese.  Et  infra  bunc  terminum  misi  Nickolaum, 
clericum  meum,  propter  Gaufridum  de  Tresgos,  et  propter  Al- 
bredam  sororem  ejus,  scilicet  qua?  fuit  uxor  avunculi  mei,  quos 
invenit  in  Norfolck  apud  Berneiana ;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidit 
quindeeim  solidos,  et  amisit  unum  rancinum  quern  emeram  novem 
solidis. 

Et  cum  redisset,  ivi  ad  placitum  meum  apud  Norbanton  cum 
amieis  et  auxiliis  meis;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispcndidi  quinquaginta  et 
quatuor  solidos.  Abhinc,  posuit  niihi  diem  alium  apud  Suhamtun 
ad  quindecimum  diem  ;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  quinquaginta 
septem  solidos;  et  in  illo  itinere  aniisi  unum  runcinum  qui  valebat 
duodecim  solidos.  Postea  venit  Radulfus  Brito,  de  Normannia,  et 
apportavit  niihi  breve  regis,  per  quod  placitum  fuit  remotum  in 
curiam  archiepiscopi  ;  et  illud  breve  apportavi  Theobaldo  arcbi- 
episcopo,  quern  apud  Wintoniam  inveni;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi 
viginti  quinque  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  ;  et  tunc  posuit  mibi 
archiepiscopus  diem  ad  festum  Sancti  Vincentii ;  et  illud  placitum 
fuit  apud  Lambetbo.  Abbiuc  posuit  mibi  diem  ad  festum  Sancti 
Valentini  martyris;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  octo  solidos  et  sex 
denarios;   et  illud  placitum  erat  apud  Maidestan 

Abhinc  posuit  mibi  diem  ad  festum  Sanctarum  Perpeture  et 
Felicitatis;  et  infra  istum  terminum  ivi  ad  episcopum  Wintonise, 
loqui  cum  eo,  ut  testificaret  divortium  quod  ante  ilium  fuerat 
factum  in  synodo  Lundonise ;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  unam 
marcam  argenti.  Et,  accepto  episcopi  testimonio,  veni  ad  diem 
meum  prsenominatum,  munitus  placitandi,  et  illud  placitum  erat 
apud  Lamhethe ;  et  ibi  dispendidi  triginta  septem  solidos  et  sex 
denarios.  Exinde  posuit  mibi  diem  in  proximo  die  Luna?  post 
"  Lajtare  Jerusalem."  Et  infra  bine  terminum  ivi  propter  magis- 
trum  Ambrosium,  qui  cum  abbate  de  Sancto  Albano  in  Norfulc 
tune  erat;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  novem  solidos,  et  quatuor 
denarios  ;  et  Sam  son  em,  capellanum  meum,  misi  pro  magistro 
Petro  de  Melide  usque  Buchingham;  et  in  illo  itinere  amisit  pale- 
fridum  suum,  quern  ei   restitui    per  unam   marcam   argenti;    et 

septem  solidos  ibi  dispendiderat . 

Pcrquisitis  clericis  prsenominatis,  veni  ad  diem  meum,  cum  auxi- 
liis meis  apud  Lundoniam;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  quinque 
marcas argenti.  Exinde  posuit  mibi  diem  ad  "  Quasi  modogeniti ;" 
et  infra  hunc  terminum  misi  Johannem,  fratrem  meum,  ultra  mare, 
ad  curiam  regis,  quia  dictum  fuil  mihi,  adversarios  meos  per- 
quisisse  breve  regis,  se  non  placitaturos  antequam  rex  Anglise 
remearet.     Et  idcirco  misi  fratrem  meum  propter  aliud  breve,  ne 


APPENDIX.  '313 

placitum  meum  remancret  propter  breve  adversariorum  meorum; 
et  in  isto  itinere  dispeudidit  frater  mens  tres  mareas  argenti;  et 
ego  ipse  interim  ivi  Cicestriam  loqui  cum  episcopo  I  Mario,  ut 
testificaret  divortium  quod  viderat  esse  factum  ante  dominum 
Wintoniensem  in  synodo  Lundoniae  cujus  testimonium  recepi, 
seilieet  litems  suas,  quas  misit  archiepiscopo,  quibus  testificavit 
divortium  :  ct  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi  quatuordecim  solidos  et 
quatuor  denarios.  Veni  igitur  ad  diem  meum  apud  Lundoniam, 
cum  clericis  et  testibus  et  ainicis  et  auxiliis  meis  ;  et  moratus  sum 
ibi  per  quatuor  dies,  quotidie  plaeitans  ;  et  in  illo  itinere  dispendidi 
centum  et  tres  solidos. 

Inde  posuit  mibi  diem  ad  Rogationes.  Et  cum  venissem  ad 
diem  meum  apud  Cantuariam,  dixerunt  adversarii  mei,  se  nolle  pla- 
citare  pro  summonitione  exercitus  regis  de  Tulus;  et  in  hoc  itinere 
dispendidi  octo  solidos,  et  inde  recessi  sine  die. 

[Many  more  lengthy  and  vexatious  delays  and  journeys,1  with 
changes  of  venue,  and  appeals  to  the  pope,2  follow,  of  the  same 
fruitless  nature,  until  finally  the  plaintiff  ohtains  a  writ  summoning 
"  adversaries  suos  "  before  the  king.]  Et  venimus  coram  rege 
apud  Wudestoche,  ubi  per  octo  dies  morati  sumus ;  et  tandem, 
gratia  domini  regis,  et  per  judicium  curiae  suae,  ad  judicata  est 
mihi  terra  avunculi  mei.  Et  ibi  dispendidi  septem  libras  et 
decern  solidos. 

Haec  sunt  dona  qua?  dedi  in  curia  archiepiscopi  placitatoribus  3  et 
clericis  mihi  auxiliantibus,  scilicet  undecim  mareas  argenti.  Et  in 
(  aria  domini  Wintoniensis,  quatuordecim  mareas  argenti, etmagistro 
Petro  de  Melide  decern  mareas,  et  umun  annulum  aureum  de 
dimi  lia  marca  argenti.     Et  magistro  Roberto   de  Chimai   unam 


1  Resulting  in  all  in  the  loss  of  six  horses. 

4  The  plaintiff,  tired  of  repeated  continuances,  at  one  stage  of  the 
case  ohtains  the  king's  permission  to  appeal  to  the  pope,  though 
judgment  had  not  been  given  against  him.  The  pope  granted  his 
writ  directed  to  the  bishop  of  Chichester  and  the  abbot  of  West- 
minster, requiring  them  to  try  the  cause,  and  a  day  is  set  for  trial 
at  Westminster;  but  with  no  better  result.  In  the  course  of  the 
proceedings  there,  the  defendant  takes  an  appeal  to  the  pope, 
where  the  plaintiff  was  successful ;  "judicium  de  adulterio"  having 
been  rendered.     The  case  then  comes  back  to  England. 

"  One  of  the  plaintiff's  counsel  was  the  celebrated  Ranulf  de 
Glanvill,  at  that  time  sheriff  of  Yorkshire. 


31  I  \iM'i:.\nix. 

marcam.  Et  in  Curia  Regis  dispendidi,  in  donis,  in  auro  et  in 
argento  et  in  equis,  sedecim  raarcas  et  dimidiam.  Et  magistro 
Petro  de  Littleberia  dedi  quadraginta  solidos.  Et  in  cseteris  placi- 
tatoribus  de  amicis  meis,  qui  ad  placita  hum  solebant  venire,  dis- 
pendidi  in  argento  et  in  equis  donandis  duodecini  marcas  et 
dimidiam. 


G. 

JUDGMENT  OF  TREASON  UPON  A  VICE-CHANCELLOR 
AND  CLERK. 

[Heney,  Son  of  the  King,  v.  Adam,  Yice-Chaxcelloh.  1170.]' 

[The  king's  son  Henry,  called  the  young  king,  makes  friends  at 
Poictiers  among  his  father's  enemies.  Whereupon  the  son's  vice- 
chancellor  writes  to  the  king  to  inform  him  of  the  facts.  But  he  is 
detected  and  arrested,  and,  a  court  being  assembled  by  the  young 
king,  he  is  condemned  to  death.  He  is  saved  by  the  bishop  of 
Poictiers  as  a  clerk,  and  then  ordered  by  the  plaintiff  to  be 
scourged  and  imprisoned.  The  king  orders  the  defendant  to  be 
sent  to  him,  and  commits  him  to  the  custody  of  the  abbot  of  Hyde.] 

Juvenis  autem  rex  cum  in  reditu  suo  venisset  usque  Pictavim, 
milites  nonnullos  de  Francia  et  Normannia,  quos  pater  suus  odio 
habebat,  pro  eo  quod  cum  illo  erant  contra  eum  tempore  guerne, 
retinuit  secum,  et  familiares  suos  fecit.  Quod  cum  Adam  clericus 
Rogerii  Eboracensis  archiepiscopo,  qui  vicena  cancellarii  in  curia 
juvenis  regis  gerebat,  loco  Gaufridi  prsepositi  Beverlaci,  ad  cujus 
opus  prsedictus  Eboracensis  archiepiscopus  cancellariam  Angliae 
emerat  [pro  undecim]  millibus  marcis  argenti,  vidisset,  doluit 
vehementer.  Et  sicut  decebat,  et  sicut  debitor  erat  domino  regi 
qui  eum  cum  filio  suo  posuerat,  cui  etiam  ipse  fidelitatem  juraverat 
contra  omnes  homines,  persona)  suae  dedecus  et  regni  sui  gravamen, 
quod  per  advenas  illos  posset  evenire,  praemeditavit ;  sustinere  non 
potuit  nee  debuit;  sed  statim  arrepto  stilo,  capitula  quaedam  tur- 
pissima  et  auditu  horrenda  sciipto  commendavit,  et  domini  sui 
secreta  detexit,  et  ea  domino  regi  in  Anglian)  mittere  festinavit. 
Sed  antequam  mitterentur,  mala  sua  detecta  sunt  et  prolata  in 
conspectu  regis  domini  sui.  Et  ipse  in  medio  duel  us  confessus  est 
et    non   negavit.     Tunc  rex  convocatis  principibus  suis,  simul  cum 


a  Hen.  II..  L22. 


APPENDIX.  315 

episcopo  Pictavensi  qui  aderat;  interrogavii  ens  quid  super  hujusce- 
modi  re  esset  agendum  ;  el  quid  faceret  do  proditore  suo,  qui  cum 
esset  secreti  sui  conscius,  patrem  suum  in  ipsum  commovere  voluit. 
Tunc  quidam  illorum  judicabant  ilium  reum  esse  mortis ;  quidam 
dignum  suspend!,  quidam  vivum  excoriari.  Sed  episcopus,  cujus 
non  erat  judicio  sanguinis  interesse,  eum  liberare  tentavit  quia 
diaconus  erat,  asserens  clericum  in  sacris  ordinibus  constitutum  a 
laico  non  posse  judicari.  Tunc  juvenis  rex  videns,  quod  propter 
episcopum  qui  clericum  ilium  tutabatur,  in  eo  animi  sui  motus  sicut 
voluit  vindicare  non  permittebatur,  cogitavit  quibus  tormentis 
eum  afficere  potuit ;  ita  tamen  quod  non  interficeretur,  sed  obser- 
varetur,  donee  boc  nunciatum  esset  regi  patri  suo.  Itaque  post 
longum  silentium  ad  se  reversus,  ait  ministris  suis,  "  Educite  eum, 
et  ligatis  manibus  a  tergo,  nudum  per  plateas  et  vicos  civitatis 
flagellis  ca?dite,  clamantes,  ut  universi  sciant,  ipsum  proditorem 
meum  esse.  Et  ducentes  eum  in  Normanniam,  incarcerate  eum 
apud  Argentomium ;  et  per  quamcunque  civitatem  ingressi  fueritis, 
eum  nudum  ducite  flagellantes  per  vicos  et  plateas."  Ipsi  vero, 
sicut  eis  prseceptum  fuerat,  fecerunt,  et  flagellatum  incarceraverunt 
eum  apud  Argentomium.  Cumque  id  domino  regi  nunciatum 
esset,  indigne  ferebat,  et  mittens  quatuor  milites  de  familia  sua  ad 
regem  filium  suum,  mandavit  ei,  ut  sine  mora  clericus  ille  ad  eum 
mitteretur.  Paruit  ergo  ipse  mandatis  patris  sui,  sed  moleste 
i'erebat,  quod  clericus  ille  vivus  recederet  ab  eo.  Qui  cum  in 
vinculis  ad  dominum  regem  in  Angliam  duceretur,  noluit  eum 
vinctum  recipere,  quia  solutum  eum  tradiderat  regi  filio  suo  ;  sed 
praecepit,  ut  in  vinculis  custodiretur  donee  locutus  fuisset  cum 
concilio  suo,  quid  de  eo  ageretur.  Et  eum  custodiendum  commen- 
davit  abbati  de  Hida  "Win  ton  se. 

Tbe  term  "  vice-cbancellor"  must  not  be  taken  as  suggestive  of  a 
court  of  cbancery  at  this  time.  It  is  used  in  a  literal  sense,  of  one 
acting  in  the  place  of  the  chief  secretary,  the  chancellor.  In  this 
sense,  it  was  at  this  time  in  common  use,  at  least  on  the  Continent. 
See  1  Roger  de  Hovenden,  pp.  416,  438  (Bohn). 


H. 

"WRITS  FROM  GLANVILL. 

BREVE   DE  SXTMMONITIONE    FACIENDA  PEOPTEE  DEBITA  BEDDENPA. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.     Precipe  N.  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione 
reddat  R.  centum  marcas,  quas  ei  debet,  ut  dieit,  et  unde  queritur, 


:l\C)  APPENDIX. 

quod  ipse  ei  injuste  deforciat  et  nisi  fecerit,  summone  euro  per 
bonos  summonitores,  quod  sit  coram  me  vel  justieiis  meia  apud 
Westmonasterium  a  clauso  Pasche  in  quindecim  dies,  ostensurus, 
quare  non  fecerit.  Et  habeas  ibi  summonitores  ethoc  breve.  Teste 
etc.     Lib.  10,  c.  2. 


BREVE    DE    SUMMONENDO    PLEGTO    DEBTTORIS,    QUOD     EEDDAT    PRO 
EO,  SI  irSE  DEFECERIT. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Precipe  N.  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione 
acquietet  R.  de  centum  marcis  versus  N.  male  eum  aplcgiavit,  ut 
dicit,  et  unde  queritur,  quod  eum  non  acquietavit  inde,  et  nisi 
fecerit,  summone  eum  per  bonos  summonitores  etc.     Lib.  10,  c.  4. 


BREVE      DE     SUMMONENDO     DEBITORE     DE     VADIO     ACQUIETANDO 
VERSUS  CEEDITOREM  QUUM  TERMINUM  STATUTUM  PRETER1IT. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Precipe  N.  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione 
aquietet  rem  illam,  quam  invadiavil  R.  pro  centum  marcis  usque  ad 
terminum,  qui  preteriit,  ut  dicit,  et  unde  queritur,  quod  eum  non- 
dum  acquietavit  ;  et  nisi  fecerit  etc.     Lib.  10,  c.  7. 


BREVE  DE  RECTO  TRO  TENEMENTO    LIBERO    AD    DOMINTM,  DE    QUO 
QUIS  CLAMAT  TENERE. 

Rex  comiti  W.  salutem.  Precipio  tibi,  quod  sine  dilatione  teneas 
plenum  rectum  N.  de  decern  carucatis  terre  in  Midelton,  quas 
clamat  tenere  de  te  per  liberum  servitium  centum  solidorum  per 
annum  pro  omni  servicio  vel  per  liberum  servitium  unde  duodecim 
canicate  terre  faciunt  feodum  unius  militis  pro  omni  servitio,  vel 
quas  clamat  pertinere  ad  liberum  tenementum  suum,  quod  de  te 
tenet  in  eadem  villa  in  Mortum  per  liberum  servitium  etc.  vel 
per  servitium  etc.  vel  quas  clamat  tenere  de  te  de  libero  mari- 
tagio  M.  matris  sue,  vel  in  liberum  burgagium,  vel  in  liberam 
elemosynam  vel  per  liberum  servitium  eundi  tecum  in  exercitum 
domini  regis  cum  duobus  equis  ad  custum  suum  pro  omni  servitio 
vel  per  liberum  servitium  inveniendi  tibi  unum  arbelastarium  in 
exercitum  domini  regis  per  quadraginta  dies  pro  omni  servitio,  quas 

I!,  tilius  W.  ei  deforciat.  Et  nisi  leceris,  vicecomes  de  Northampton 
Eaciat,  ne  amplius  clamorem  audiam  pro  defectu  justicie.  'I',  etc. 
Lib.  12,  c.  3. 


APPENDIX.  -U7 


BREVE    DE    RECTO    PRO    BEDDITU    LIBERO    AD    EUNDEM. 

Rex  N.  salutem.  Precipio  tibi,  quod  sine  dilatione  plenum  rectum 
teneas  X.  de  centum  solidatis  redditus  in  villa  ilia,  quam  clamat 
tenere  de  te  per  liberum  servitium  etc.  vel  per  servitium  etc. 
Et  nisi  feceris,  vicecomes  Oxonie  faciat,  ne  amplius  inde  clamorem 
audiara  pro  defectu  recti.     T.  etc.    Lib.  12,  c.  4. 


BREVE    DE    RECTO    PRO    TENEMENTO    VEL    BEDDITU    LIBEEO. 

Rex  R.  salutem.  Precipio  tibi,  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione  babere 
facias  N.  et  A.  uxori  sue,  rationabilem  partem  suam,  que  eos  con- 
tinent de  uno  mesuagio  in  ilia  villa,  quam  clamant  pertinere  ad 
liberum  tenementum  suum,  quod  tenent  de  domino  rege  in  eadem 
villa  per  liberum  servitium  duorum  solidorum  per  unum  annum, 
vel  de  una  marcata  redditus  in  ilia  villa,  quam  clamant  de  libero 
maritagio  ipsius  A.  unde  queruntur,  quod  B.  soror  ipsius  A.  eis 
deforciat,  vel  quam  G.  eis  deforciat.  Et  nisi  feceris,  vicecomes 
faciat  ne  amplius  oportet  inde  conqueri  pro  defectu  justicie.  T.  etc. 
Lib.  12,  c.  5. 


llKEVE   DE    RECTO    DE    NON    VEXANDO    TENENTE    INDEBITIS    CON- 
SUETUDINIBUS  ET   SERVITIIS. 

Rex  N.  salutem.  Prohibeo  tibi,  ne  injuste  vexes  vel  vexari  per- 
mittas  H.  de  libero  tenemento  suo,  quod  tenet  de  te  in  ilia  villa  ; 
nee  inde  ab  eo  exigas  vel  exigi  permittas  consuetudines  vel  servitia, 
que  tibi  inde  facere  non  debet,  vel  que  antecessors  sui  inde  non 
fecerunt,  nee  facere  debuerent  tempore  H.  regis,  avi  mei.  Et  nisi 
feceris,  vicecomes  faciet,  ne  oportet  eum  amplius  inde  conqueri  etc. 
T.  etc.    Lib.  12,  c.  10. 


BEEVE    DE   NATIVIS   ET    FTTGITIVIS. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Precipio  tibi,  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione 
facias  babere  M.  R.  nativum  suum  et  fugitivum  suum  cum  omnibus 
catallis  suis  et  cum  tota  sequela  sua,  ubicunque  inventus  fuerit  in 
balliva  tun,  nisi  sit  in  dominico  meo,  qui  fugit  de  terra  sua  post 
primam  coronationem  meam.  Et  probibeo,  ne  quis  eum  injuste 
detineat  super  forisfacturam  meam.     T.  etc.    Lib.  12.  c.  11. 


•318  U'I'KXDIX. 

BKEVE    DE   AISIAMENTIS    CONSUETIS    HABENDIS    IN   BOSCO   ET 
P\STtTRA   IN    LIBEKIS    TENEMENTIS. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.    Precipio  tibi  quod  sine  dilatione  precipias 
R.  quod  juste  efc  sine  dilatione  permittat  habere  H.  aisiamenta  sua 

in  bosco  et  in  pastura  de  villa  ilia,  que  habere  debet,  ut  dicit,  sicut 
ea  habere  debet  et  habere  solet,  et  non  permittas,  quod  prefatus  R. 
vel  alius  ei  inde  molestiam  vel  injuriam  faciat,  ne  amplius  etc.  T. 
etc.    Lib.  12,  c.  14. 


BKEVE   DE    FACIENDIS    RATIONABILIBUS    DIVISIS    INTEE    DUO 
TENEMENTA. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Precipio  tibi,  quod  juste  et  sine  dilatione 
facias  esse  rationabiles  divisas  inter  terram  R.  in  ilia  villa,  et  in 
pertinentiis  et  terram  D.  in  ilia  villa,  sicut  esse  debent  et  solent 
esse  et  sicut  fuerunt  tempore  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei,  unde  R. 
queritur,  quod  A.  injuste  et  sine  judicio  occupavit  inde  plus,  quam 
pertinet  ad  liberum  tenementum  suum  de  villa,  ne  oporteat  etc.  T. 
etc.     Lib.  12,  c.  16. 


DE    MOBTE  ANTECESSOKIS,  CUJUS    HERES  MAJOR  EST. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Si  G.  filius  F.  fecerit  te  securum  de 
clamore  suo  prosequendo,  tunc  summone  per  bonos  summonitores 
duodecim  liberos  et  legales  homines  de  visineto  de  ilia  villa,  quod 
sint  coram  me  vel  justiciis  meis  eo  die  parati  Sacramento  recog- 
noscere,  si  T.  pater  predicti  G.  fuit  seisitus  in  dominico  suo,  sicut 
de  feodo  suo  de  una  virgata  terre  in  ilia  villa  die,  qua  obiit,  si  obiit 
post  primam  coronationem  meam,  et  si  ille  G.  propinquior  heres 
ejus  est  et  interim  terram  iilam  videant,  et  nomina  eorum  imbre- 
viari  facias  et  summone  per  bonos  summonitores  R.  qui  terram  illam 
tenet,  quod  tunc  sit  ibi  auditurus  illam  recognition  em  et  habeas  ibi 
summonitores  etc.     T.  etc.    Lib.  13,  c.  3. 


BEEVE  DE    FACIENDA   SEISINA   PETENTI  POST  RECOGN  1TIONEM 

I    WTAM. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Scias,  quodN.  diracionavit  in  curia  mea, 
seisinam  tante  terre  in  ilia  villa  per  recognitionem  de  morte  illius 
antecessoris  sui  versus  II.  El  ideo  tibi  precipio,  quod  seisinam 
illam  ei  sine  dilatione  haberi  facias.     T.  etc.     Lib.  13,  c.  8. 


APPENDIX.  319 

BBEVE  DE  STTMMONENDA  EECOGNITIONE  UTEUM  PATEB  MINORIS, 
CONTBA  QUEM  ALIUS  PETIT  BECOONITIOXEM  DE  MOBTE  ANTE- 
CESSORS, SEISITUS  FUERIT  DE  ALIQUO  TENEMBNTO  DIE  QUA 
OBIIT,  UT  DE  FEODO  VEL  UT  DE  W.VEDA. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Suinmone  per  bonos  summonitores  duo- 
decim  liberos  et  legales  homines  de  visineto  de  ilia  villa,  quod  sin l 
coram  me  vel  justiciis  meis  ad  ilium  terminum  parati  Sacramento 
recognoscere,  si  R.  pater  N.  qui  infra  etatem  est,  seisitus  fuit  in 
dominico  suo  de  una  carucata  terre  in  ilia  villa,  unde  M.  films  et 
heres  T.  petit  recognitionem  de  morte  ipsius  T.  patris  sui  versus 
ipsum  N.  ut  de  feodo  suo  die,  qua  obiit  vel  ut  de  warda.  Et 
nomina  eorum  imbreviari  facias.  Et  summone  per  bonos  summoni- 
tores predictum  N.  qui  terrain  illam  tenet  quod  tunc  sit  ibi  audi- 
turus  illam  recognitionem.    Et  babeas  etc.    Lib.  13,  c.  14. 


BREVE   DE    SUMMONENDA   EECOGNITIONE    DE   ULTIMIS    PEESENTA- 
TIONIBITS   PEBSONABUM. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Summone  per  bonos  summonitores  duo- 
decim  liberos  et  legales  homines  de  visineto  de  villa  ilia,  quod  shit 
coram  me  vel  justiciis  meis  eo  die  parati  sacramento  cognoscere, 
quis  advocatus  presentavit  ultimam  personam,  que  obiit,  ad  ecclesiam 
de  ilia  villa,  que  vacans  est,  ut  dicitur,  et  unde  N.  clamat  advoca- 
tionem.  Et  nomina  eorum  imbreviari  facias  et  summone  per  bonos 
summonitores  R.  qui  presentationem  ipsam  deforciat,  quod  tunc 
sit  ibi  auditurus  illam  recognitionem.  Et  habeas  etc.  T.  etc. 
Lib.  13,  c.  19. 


BEEVE   DE   SUMMONENDA   EECOGNITIONE,   UTEUM   ALIQUOD 
TENEMENTUM    SIT   LAICUM   VEL   ECCLESIASTICUM. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Summone  per  bonos  summonitores 
duodecim  liberos  et  legales  homines  de  visineto  de  ilia  villa,  quod 
Bint  coram  me  vel  justiciis  meis  eo  die  parati  sacramento  recog- 
noscere, utrum  una  hida  terre,  quam  N.  persona  ecclesie  de  ilia  villa 
clamat  ad  liberam  elemosynam  ipsius  ecclesie  sue  versus  R.  in  ilia 
villa,  sit  laicum  feodum  ipsius  R.  an  feodum  ecclesiasticum.  Et 
interim  terram  illam  videant  et  nomina  eorum  inbreviari  facias. 
lit  summone  per  bonos  summonitores  predictum  R.  qui  terram 
illam  tenet,  quod  tunc  sit  ibi  auditurus  illam  recognitionem.  Et 
habeas  ibi  etc.    T.  etc.     Lib.  13,  c.  24. 


o20  UM'KXIMX. 


DREVE   DE    NOVA   DISSEISINA   DE    LTEEEO  TENEMENTO. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Questus  est  mihi  N.  quod  It.  injuste 
ei  sine  judicio  disseisivit  eum  de  libero  tenemento  suo  in  ilia  villa 
post  ultimam  fcransfretationem  nieam  in  Normanniam.  Et  ideo 
tibi  precipio  quod  si  prefatus  N.  fecerit  te  securum  de  clamore  suo 
prosequendo,  tunc  facias  tenementum  illud  reseisiri  de  catallis,  que 
in  eo  capta  fuerunt  et  ipsum  tenementum  cum  catallis  esse  facias 
in  pace  usque  ad  clausum  Pasche  et  interim  facias  duodecim  liberos 
et  legales  homines  de  visineto  videve  terram  illani  et  nomina  eorum 
imbreviari  facias  et  summone  illos  per  bonos  summonitores,  quod 
tunc  sint  coram  me  vel  justiciis  meis  parati  inde  facere  recogni- 
tionem.  Et  pone  per  vadium  et  salvos  plegios  prcdictum  R.  vel 
ballivum  suum,  si  ipse  non  fuerit  inventus,  quod  tunc  sit  ibi 
auditnrus  illam  recognitionein.  Et  babeas  ibi  etc.  T.  etc.  Lib.  13, 
c.  33. 


BEEVE   DE  NOVA  DISSEISINA  DE  FOSSATO    LEVA  TO   VEL    PKOSTEATO. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Questus  est  mihi  N.  quod  R.  injuste 
et  sine  judicio  levavit  quoddam  fossatum  vel  prostravit  in  ilia  villa 
ad  nocumentum  liberi  tenementi  sui  in  eadem  villa  post  ultimam 
tiansfretationem  meam  in  Normanniam.  Et  ideo  tibi  precipio, 
quod  si  prefatus  N.  fecerit  te  securum  de  clamore  suo  prosequendo, 
tunc  facias  duodecim  liberos  etc.  videre  fossatum  illud  et  tene- 
mentum et  nomina  eorum  imbreviari  facias.  Et  summone  per 
bonos  summonitores  etc.  ut  prius.     Lib.  13,  c.  35. 


BEEVE    DE   NOVA   DISSEISINA   DE  COMMUNI  PASTURA. 

Rex  vicecomiti  salutem.  Questus  est  mihi  X.,  quod  R.  injuste 
et  sine  judicio  disseisivit  eum  de  communi  pastura  sua  in  ilia  villa, 
que  pertinet  ad  liberum  tenementum  suum  in  eadem  villa  vel  in 
ilia  alia  villa,  post  ultimam  meam  transfretationem  in  Normanniam. 
Et  ideo  precipio  tibi,  quod  si  prefatus  N.  fecerit  te  securum  de 
clamore  suo  prosequendo,  tunc  facias  duodecim  liberos  etc.  videre 
pasturam  illam  et  tenementum  et  nomina  eorum  etc.   Lib.  13,  c.  37. 


GLOSSARY. 


Abbas :  an  abbot. 

Abbatia  :  an  abbey. 

Abbat issct:  an  abbess. 

Acra :  an  acre. 

Adresciare  :  to  give  redress. 

A  Ivocatio:  an  advowson;  a  right  to 
present  a  clerk  to  a  benefice.  Some- 
times, also,  a  summons. 

Affidwre  :  to  swear. 

Allecia :  herrings. 

Antecessor :  a  predecessor  in  right ; 
not  used  in  the  sense  of  the  modern 
English  law. 

Apparitor :  a  public  summoner,  having 
also,  it  seems,  some  judicial  func- 
tions. See  the  acts  of  Pule  in  tin- 
case  of  Ailward,  p.  260.  Perhaps  at 
this  time  one  empowered  to  make 
presentments  under  the  assize  of 
Clarendon. 

Appellatio  :  an  appeal  or  complaint  of 
tort  or  crime ;  also  taking  a  cause 
to  a  court  of  review, —  i.  e.  to  the 
pope. 

Aqua :  the  ordeal  of  hot  or  cold 
water. 

Assisa  :  an  assise ;  a  law ;  a  mode  of 
trial;  the  body  selected  to  carry  out 
the  trial ;  the  trial  itself  (Stubbs). 

Ailil "Jure  :  to  grant  or  give. 

Baillia,  Baillwa:  a  bailiwick. 

Baillivus,  BalUvus  :  the  bailiff  of  a 
lord. 

la/rims:  a  cross-bowman. 

BalUvus  :  the  bailiff  of  a  lord. 

Bannamleuca :  territory  a  league  (or 
thereabouts)  in  diameter,  surround- 
ing a  possession. 


Bellum  :  trial  by  battle. 
Bocland  :  land  held  by  charter,  which 
had  been  folkland,  that  is,  com- 
mon land  of  the  public.  The 
charter  was  always  attested  by  the 
Witan  or  Council,  because  the  land 
belonged  to  the  public.  And  this 
consent  was  in  the  nature  of  an 
adjudication  in  favour  of  the  gran)  ee, 
and  hence  the  efficacy  of  the  charter. 
It  was  also  exempt,  or  might  be, 
from  all  the  burdens  of  folkland, 
except  the  trinoda  necessitas.  Allo- 
dial lands  granted  by  book  (charter) 
were  in  a  sense  bookland.  but  not 
in  the  sense  of  bookland  proper,  as 
explained.  It  could  only  have  been 
evidence  of  title, — not  an  adjudi- 
cation of  title.  Mr.  Allen  has  well 
explained  the  distinctions  between 
the  several  classes.  Eoyal  Prero- 
gative, 135,  136,  149,  150.  See  also 
Schmid's  Gesetze,  Glossary,  sub 
voce. 

Bordarius :  a  small  landholder,  having 
a  cottage  (bord),  nearly  identical 
with  cottarius  (1  Ellis,  Introd.  82). 

Boscus :  a  wood. 

Bovata  :  an  oxgang  of  land,  varying  in 
quantity  from  eight  to  twenty-four 
acres;  as  much  as  an  ox-team  could 
plough  in  a  year  (1  Ellis,  Introd. 
156). 

Breve :  a  writ. 

Calumnia,    Calu/mpnia:    a   claim;    a 

complaint ;  a  wrong. 
Oalumv/iare,   Calumpniare  :   to  claim  ; 

to  complain. 


322 


GLOSSARY. 


vrius :  a  chamberlain. 

Cancellarius  :  a  chancellor. 

I  'ariagium  :  carriage. 

Carucata :  a  carucatc  ;  as  much 
arable  laud  as  could  be  ploughed  with 
one  plough  in  a  year  ;  an  amount  of 
land  varying  in  extent  till  the  year 
1191.  when  it  became  fixed  at  100 
acres  (Stubbs). 

Carucca :  a  plough. 

Catalla:  chattels. 

Cellerarius  :  a  cellarer. 

Cherries  :  the  face. 

Childvrite  :  a  fine  for  getting  a  villana 
with  child  (Stubbs). 

Circsceat,  Cirichescot :  churchscot  ; 
church-tax. 

we:  to  claim.     Clamare  quietus, 
to  quit-claim. 

( 'lamor  :  a  claim  ;  a  complaint. 

Conies :  an  earl. 

Comitatus  :  a  county ;  a  county  court. 

Commendare  :  to  put  oneself,  and  usu- 
ally one's  land,  under  protection  of 
another.  Sec  the  Introduction,  sub 
fin. 

Conquestio  :  a  complaint. 

'  'onvt  ntus  :  a  convent. 

Coquinarius  :  a  cook. 

Corredium  :  a  corrody  ;  an  allowance 
of  meat,  drink,  and  clothing  due  to 
the  nominee  of  the  founder  of  a 
religious  house,  or  of  the  founder's 
heirs. 

a  cottager;  a  small  land- 
holder, like  a  bordarius  (I  Ellis, 
Introd.  SI). 

a:    a    measure;    a   cup    (see   1 
Twysden's  Script.  61  I). 

Cwria  ChrisHanitatis ;  the  Ecclesias- 
tical Court. 

'■  i  :the  King's  Court;  some- 
times the  Great  Council  (see  the 
lui  reduction). 

Damnare,  Dampnare  :  to  claim. 
Damn  urn,  Dampnum  :  damage. 


Dapifer :  a  steward. 

Decima :  a  tithe. 

Denarius:  a  penny;  money. 

Deraciocinare,  Deratiocinare,  Desracio- 
nare,  Desrationare,  Dirationa/re,  Dis- 
raciocinare,Disratiocinare :  to  prove ; 
hence  often  to  recover.  Modern 
Eng.  law  "  deraign." 

DeraciocinaUo,  Dirraciocinatio,  Dira- 
tionamentum  :  proof;  recovery  ; 
judgment. 

Dexirarius  :  a  war-horse  (held  d-  otra 
man/u). 

Dirationamentwm  :  sec  Deraciocina- 
tio. 

Dissaisina,  Disseisina  :  a  disseisin. 

Dissisiare,  Dissaisire:  to  disseise. 

Dominium:  demesne;  domain. 

Domnus :  title  given  an  abbot  by  his 
house. 

Drenges :  probably  a  class  of  allodial 
tenants  (1  Ellis,  Introd.  56).  Ac- 
cording to  Spelman  (Glossary, 
Drenches),  they  were  military 
tenants;  but  this,  it  seems,  was  not 
their  first  situation  (see  Preface  to 
this  book). 

Duellum  :  trial  by  battle. 

Enyptiones  :  property  acquired  by 
money  -  purchase.  The  "perquisi- 
tions" were  probably  property 
otherwise  acquired  (except  by  de- 
scent), as  by  gift  or  increment.  See 
p.  230.  Both  were  alienable  from 
the  heir.  Laws  lien.  I.,  c.  70; 
Glanvill,  lib.  7,  c.  1. 
'  itio  :  :  1 1 1  exchange. 

Escampa  :  evasion.  Compare  English 
scamper,  scamp. 

Esca/i  gvwm  :  an  exchange. 

E  namiari  ;  to  distrain. 

Essarta,  Emories :  cssarts;  cleariugs 
in  the  forests. 

Essonia  :  an  essoin;  an  excuse  for 
non-appearance  at  court  in  answer 
to  summons. 


GLOSSARY. 


323 


nbium  :  an  exchange. 
Exclusa :  a  sluice. 

Falcona/rius  :  a  keeper  of  hawks. 

Fiill ii  in  :  a  fold. 

Falsitas:  forgery. 
naria  :  forgery. 
a/rius  :  a  forger. 

itc:    a  fine  paid  for  exemption 
from  expedition. 

Vt  rma  :  ferm  or  farm  ;  a  fixed  rent ; 
the  profits  of  the  county  juris- 
dictions. 

Femwn  :  the  ordeal  of  hot  iron. 

Feudatus :  a  feudatory;  one  invested 
with  a  feud. 

Fidejussor:  a  surety. 

Fidelitas :  fealty. 

Fihtwite:  a  fine  for  fighting. 

Fines:  termination  of  a  suit  by  con- 
cord, generally  applied  to  real  pro- 
perty suits  ;  a  conveyance  of  land 
by  fine  and  concord. 

Fh/mena  :  a  fine  for  harbouring  fugi- 
tives or  outlaws. 

Folcland  :  common  land  of  the  public, 
in  distinction  from  bocland  ;  as  to 
which  see  supra. 

Foresteal :  an  assault. 

Forisfacere :  to  forfeit  or  commit  for- 
feiture ;  to  do  wrong. 

Forisfactura :  forfeit  or  forfeiture;  a 
tort  or  wrong. 

Frymtke:  a  fine  for  harbouring  fugi- 
tives  or  outlaws. 

Gablum  :  rent. 

Qarba  :  a  sheaf  of  corn. 

Geldare :  to  pay  tax. 

m:  tax  ;  money  dues. 

Gemot:  a  court.  The  witenagemot; 
the  assembly  of  the  wise ;  the  great 
court  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  and  early 
Norman  period.  Afterwards  called 
the  Magnum  Concilium,  sometimes, 
the  King's  Court.  See  Schmid's 
Gesetze,  Glossary,  Gemot. 


Qilda,  Gildatio  :  tax;  money  dues. 
Grithlreche:  breach  of  the  peace. 
Guagium  :  a  pledge. 
Gwcrra  :  war. 

llnliiiiotus  :  hallmoot ;  hustings. 

Hamsocna  :  house-breaking. 

Harieta :  a  heriot.  Ang.-Sax.  hercgeat. 

]Ia«nfare :  house- breaking. 

Herberia  :  a  harbouring. 

Hida  :    a    hide  of  land,  the  quantity 

varying  until  temp.  Hen.  II.,  when  it 

amounted  to  100  acres  (Stubbs). 
Homagium :  homage. 
Hordarius :  one  who  has  charge  of  the 

granary. 
Hundred  :    a    division  of  the  county, 

consisting  of  several  townships;  the 

hundred  court. 

Inbreviare:  to  register  or  name  in  a 
writ. 

Infangennetheof :  the  right  to  take  a 
thief  within  one's  manor,  and  have 
his  goods. 

Inquisitio ;  the  mode  of  trial  intro- 
duced by  the  Normans  ;  evidence 
by  impartial  men  summoned  and 
examined  by  virtue  of  a  writ.  See 
Introduction. 

Invadiare  :  to  mortgage  or  pledge. 

Ire  cum,  terra  :  equivalent  to  ire  etven- 
dere  terrain.  Often  connected  with 
commendation.  See  the  Introduc- 
tion, sub  fin. 

Judicium  :  in  technical  language,  the 
ordeal ;  sometimes  the  duel. 

Justicia,  Justiciarius :  a  justiciar  or 
judge. 

Katalla :  chattels. 

Lcesio  majestatis :  treason  to  the  king; 

lese-majesty. 
Laga :  law. 
Lagemannus :    a   lawman;    a   person 


Y  2 


3-21 


GLOSSARY. 


possessing  jurisdiction  or  qualified 
to  exercise  it  (Stubbs). 
Laics  :  a  layman. 

:  custom  exacted  on  a  ship's 
ladi 
/.•      ■  ;  a  measure  of  1500  paces  5  later 

a  league  |  Stubbs). 
Libra  :  a  pound. 

i :   Land  of  the  annual  value  of 
a  pound. 

la  :  a  complaint ;  a  suit  (p.  260). 

:  the  Greaf  Coun- 
cil, corresponding  to  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Witenagemot, and  sometimes 
still  called  by  that  name.  Seethe 
Introduction. 

an    ideal    coin,   generally 
i  d  at  30  pence. 
'.'  :   hand. 
Mansio  ;    a    manor    (Doomsday)  ;    a 

dwelling-house. 
Manutenere  :  to  maintain. 
Mai xa  :  a  mark  ;  -when  of  silver  worth 
w.:  when  of  gold,  £6. 

.-  master  of  the  horse;  also 
a  marshal. 

:  the  right  of  giving  in 
marriage j  also  the  portion  accom- 
panying. 

night  ;  a  warrior  (generally 
in    the   former  sense  from  the  12th 
iry). 

a  little  knight  or  knight  ling 
d  in  derision,  p.  177). 
Misericordda :  an  amercement. 
Molt  :  a  miller. 

m:  a  mill. 

the  ordeal  or  judgmeni  by 

hot  or  cold  water,  by  hot  iron,  or 
by  the  morsel  (for  the  clergy).  It 
always  appears  .as  the  judgment  of 
God,  rather  than  as  an  ordinary 
judgment  of  court  ;  in  which  n 
it  -was  like  the  duel.  See  further 
Schmid's  Gesctze,  Glossary,  Ordal  ; 


and    see    the    Introduction   to   this 
book. 

PaZefridus  .-  a  palfrey. 

Parochia  :  parish. 

Pasnagiwm :  pannage;  the  privilege 
of  mast  for  hogs  in  the  forests. 

Passagium  :  a  voyage  ;  a  tax  on  passen- 
gers. 

Perquisitiones :  property  acquired 
otherwise  than  by  money-purchase 
or  descent.     See  Emptiones. 

:  a  cup-bearer  or  butler. 

Placitare :  to  plead. 

Plaeitor :  a  pleader  ;  a  party  (p.  132). 

Placitum:  a  plea  ;  atrial. 

Pit  giare:  to  pledge. 

Plegius :  a  pledge. 

Pontagium  :  bridge-toll. 

Portan  iudiciwm:  to  undergo  the 
ordeal. 

Portmanwirnot ;  a  town  court. 

Propositus:  an  officer  of  justice;  a 
reeve. 

.•a  priest. 

Purprestwra :  a  purpresture j  an  en- 
croachment upon  the  king's  domain 
or  highway  ;  a  public  nuisance. 

Quietus:  quit;  discharged.  Quietus 
clamare,  to  quit-claim. 

lition   or  inquisi- 
tion :  also  an  acknowledgment. 
Ttectitudines :    legal    rights.      Facere 
reel  ii  iidinem,  to  do  one's  duty. 
services. 
iare,  Resa/isire:   to  give   seisin 
again. 

bus:  respite;  continuation  of  a 
case. 

■  in  claim  or  counter-claim. 
liuncin  \i&  :  a  pack-horse. 

Sacha  .-jurisdiction  in  litigation. 
.-    to  give  seisin ;    to 
seise. 


(iLOSSAKY. 


:$:>5 


Scacra rin m  :  the  Exchequer.  See  the 
Introduction. 

Scira,  8cyra,  Sira:  a  shire  ;  a  county. 

Scotta :  tax  ;  money.  Ang.-Sax.  sco- 
atta,  penny. 

Srl'lti :  a  shed  for  merchandise. 

Senescallus :  a  steward. 

Set :  for  sed. 

Sira :  a  shire  ;  a  county. 

Soca,  Socca,  Socna,  Soka:  jurisdiction; 
the  territory  embraced  by  a  fran- 
chise. 

'■  >•  ni  :    socage;    tenure   by   fixed 
service. 

Socmannvs :  a  sokeman;  a  man  who 
has  to  pay  suit  to  a  soken  ;  hence  a 
tenant  in  socage  (Stubbs).  See 
Spel man's  Glossary  and  Schmid's 
Gesetze,  Gloss.,  sub  voce. 

Solidus:  a  shilling. 

Sopa :  a  shop. 

Stalagium:  a  stall  in  a  market. 

Stalre  :  a  master  of  the  horse. 

Subcommendare :  to  commend  one- 
self to  a  person  who  has  himself 
been  commended  to  a  superior.  As 
to  the  meaning  of  commendation, 
see  Commendare. 

Subregulus:  an  under-king  or  ealdor- 
man  ;  the  term  indicating  the  sink- 
ing of  the  king  of  a  nation  into  a 
position  subordinate  to  that  of  the 
king  of  a  superior  power.  "  The 
Ilwiccian  kings  ....  were  under 
the  protection  of  the  Mercian  kings 
until  they  sank  into  the  rank  of 
ealdormen."  1  Stubbs,  Const.  Hist. 
171,  note. 

i-jinni:    a   team    of    beasts   of 
burden. 

Tam  a  as :  a  theyn. 

Vheam,  Tliem,  Thei/m:  voucher 
to  warrant. 

us,  Teiwus:  a  theyn. 
Telonium,  Theloneum,  Thol,  Tol,  Toll, 
Toloneum  :  duty  on  imports. 


Tenatwra:  tenure;  holding. 

Theinland:  theyn-land  ;  lands  held  by 
theyns  from  the  king  for  military 
service ;  also  bookland  (bocland, 
supra)  held  by  theyns.  Allen,  Royal 
Prerog.  1  13. 

Thol:  see  Telonium. 

Tol,  Toll :  see  Telonium. 

Tart nr><  :  a  wrong.  Modern  Eng.  law 
"tort." 

Treding,  Trithmg :  division  of  the 
county  above  the  hundred.  A  term 
used  in  the  North  of  England  ;  the 
county  being  divided  into  three 
parts,  each  a  treding,  trithing,  or 
riding. 

Utlagatus :  an  outlaw. 

Vades,  Vadimonium,  Vadium:  a  pledge 

or  mortgage. 
Vadimonizare :  to  pledge  or  mortgage. 
Varasor :  an  inferior  baron ;  a  vassal 

holding  of  a  baron  (Stubbs). 
Vicecomes :  a  sheriff. 
Vicecomitatus :  a  county  in  charge  of 

a  sheriff. 
Vicus :  a  hamlet  or  wick. 
Virgata :     a    yardland,    the     amount 

varying  from  eighteen  to  sixty  acres 

(1  Ellis,  Introd.  155). 
Vocairio  :  a  summons. 

Wapentac  .-  a  division  of  the  county  in 
the  North  of  England,  answering  to 
the  hundred. 

Warec,  Werec :  wreck. 

Werra:  war. 

Wista :  a  half-hide  or  half-carucato 
of  land  (Spelman). 

Witenagemot:  the  assembly  of  the 
wise;  the  great  court  for  legislative 
and  (to  some  extent)  for  judicial 
purposes  among  the  Anglo-Saxons, 
corresponding  to  the  Magnum  Con- 
cilium (sometimes  called  the  King's 
Court)  of  the  Norman  peiiod.  Sec 
the  Introduction. 


INDEX. 


A11m.(  of  Battle,  difficulties  with 
bishop  of  Chichester,  14—16,  150. 

Abuse  of  office,  2'.*0. 

Adultery.  313. 

Advowson,  2  15. 

Agency,  59,  62,  223. 

Alienation,  3S,  15,  48,  175,  1S2. 

Amercements,  212,  226,  24-1,  245,  274, 
301.  See  Exchequer  proceedings, 
140—142,  268—278. 

Anglo-Saxon  Procedure.  See  Intro- 
duction. 

Antecessor,  29,  45,  47,  52,  56,  57,  58, 
59,  297,  299,  300,  304. 

Appaiitor,  duties  of,  260. 

Appeals,  accusations  of  crime  or  tort, 

II.  L2,  30,  69,  94,  111,  233,  217,  283, 
285,  291,  307.  On  failure  of  jus- 
tire,  L21,  212.  To  the  pope,  189, 
214,  240,  248,  313. 

Aqueduct,  destruction  of,  62. 

ult  and  Battery,  L88,  223. 
Atheling,  writ  by  William  the,  33. 
Attorney,  appearance  by,  206,  226. 

Balistarius,  51. 

Barones,  17,  37,  45,  60,  61,  et  passim. 

Bastardy  (childwite),  8. 

Battel  Abbey,  freedom  of,  14—16,  156. 

Bat!  le,  Wager  of,  19,  11 .  42,  43,  61,  69, 

III,  111',  L82,  268,  270,273,283,305. 
Becket,  Archbishop,  211—216,  216. 
Boundaries,  139. 

Bribery,  261,  284. 

Causidici,  31. 

(  Liinbcrlain  of  Abbe^  .  jurisdiction  of, 

•I'M. 
Charters,  use  of  in  evidence,  3,  27,  31, 

L23j    L33,    1  IS,    171,    177,    L86,  238, 

245,  297. 


Childwite,  8. 

Commendation,  45,  46,  302,  303,  301, 

305,  306,  307. 
Compurgation,     35,   38,   ISO  ?     (more 

likely  witness-proof.)   See  the  Intro- 
duction. 
Concords,  18,  25,  172,  189,  264—267, 

273,  276,  278,  288,  310. 
Confirmation,    writs    and  charters   of, 

15,   19,  21,  22,  29,  63,  73,  91,  98,  et 

passim. 
Conquest,  lands  taken  in  the,  1. 
Conspiracy,  10,  11. 
Contempt,  185. 
Continuance  of  Cause,  269,  270,  274, 

27*. 
Court,  Christian,  278. 
Cultellus,  livery  by,  70,  150,  172. 
Customs,  passim.  Of  ships,  102,  103, 

201. 

Debt,  92,  97,  104,  109,  110,  139,  207, 
208,  213,  223,  279,  280.  See  Ex- 
chequer proceedings,  140 — 142,  268 
—278. 

Deceit,  131. 

Defaults,  268,  270. 

Defectus  prosequendi,  268. 

Defectus  Recti  vel  Justitias,  121,  212. 

Depositions,  150,  191—196. 

Detinue,  action  in  the  nature  of,  136. 

Disseisin,  without  process  of  law,  282. 

Distraint,  88,  92,  110,  131, 139,  260. 

Divorce,  311. 

Doomsday  Book,  used  in  evidence,  100. 

Doomsday  Inquisitions,  37 — 61,  287 — 
290,  293—307. 

D  ewer  or  Dowry,  180,  276. 

Drengs,  2.     See  Preface. 

Duel,  19,  41,  42,  43,  61,  69,  141,  112, 
182,  268,  270,  273,  283,  305. 


INDEX. 


327 


Ecclesiastical  Causes,  210. 

Ecclesiastical  Court,  278. 

Ely,  liberties  of,  22—29. 

Equity,  LSI,  221,  235,  236,  212,  219. 
See  Injunction;  also  the  Introduc- 
tion. 

Errantea  Justiciarii,  69,  211. 

Essarts,  173,  255. 

Essoins,  167,  213,  210. 

Evidence.  See  Battle  ;  Charters  ; 
Compurgation  ;  Doomsday  Book  ; 
Inquisition  ;  Oath  ;  Ordeal  ;  Wit- 
nesses. 

Exchequer,  a  court  of  trial  of  common 
pleas,  99,  100,  127.  Revenue,  140— 
112,  235,  26S— 278. 

Execution,  writs  in  the  nature  of,  19, 
29,  33,  71,  72,  111,  124,  128,  129, 
130,  137,  138,  148,  162. 

Fairs,  87. 

False  Appeal,  271. 

False  Imprisonment,  272,  273. 

False  Judgment,  10,  20,  31,  212  (?). 

False  Plea,  277. 

False  Writ,  301. 

Fealty,  215. 

Fines.     See  Concords. 

Fire.     See  Ordeal. 

Fisheries,  90,  256. 

Fitz-Ailwin,   first   mayor  of  London, 

263. 
Foreign  Merchants,  37,  67. 
Forest  Laws,  72,  173. 
Forgery,  177,  269,  301. 
Franchises,  passim. 
Frankalmoign,  lands  held  in,  91,  93, 

128,  130. 
Fraud,  131. 

Fugitives,  13,  94,  95,  220,  268. 
Fur  manifestus,  260. 

Glanvill,  Eanulf  de,  prosecution  by, 
233.     Writs  of,  211,  242,  311-319. 

Homage,  20. 
Homicide,  8,  140,  238. 


Hospitium,  right  of,  279. 
House-breaking,  260. 
Hue  and  Cry,  274,  275. 
Hustings  Court,  261. 

Injunction,  writs  in  the  nature  of,  27, 
28,  30,  32,  63,  61,  90,  91,  96,  105, 
129,  148(?),  149(f),  159,  163  (?), 
166,  212. 

Inquisition,  1,  9,  24,  28, 33,  37—61,  66, 
71,  73,  120,  121,  139,  147,  160,  199, 
203,  216,  217,  219,  229,  238,  258,  259, 
261,  271—275,  279,  284—286,  288. 

Inspeximus  Charters,  222. 

Investiture.     See  Livery  of  Seisin. 

Iron.     See  Ordeal. 

Jews,  277,  279. 

Judgment,  impeachment  of,  10,  20 — 

22,  34, 199.     Mesne  or  interlocutory, 

18,  113,  116,  285. 
Jurisdiction,  84,  224,   238,   217,   278, 

283. 
Justiciarii  errantes,  69,  244. 

King,  The,  participation  of  in  trials, 
11,  29,  63,  133,  135,  136,  145,  158, 
212,  214,  221.  Vouched  to  warrant, 
304,  305. 

King's  Evidence  (by  prohator),  269. 

Knight  Fees,  recovery  of,  75,  76,  78. 

Knight  Service,  62.    See  Introduction. 

Lawyers  (causidici),  31. 

License,  of  lord  to  alienate,  175,  182. 

Limitation,  33,  169,  170,  204,  207,  235, 

256,  257. 
Livery  of   Seisin,  70,  150,  294,    296, 

297,  299,  303. 
London,  litigation  with  citizens  of,  62. 

Maritagium,  231,  27  I, 

Markets,  32,  125,  132,  198. 

Marriage  and  Divorce,  311. 

Married  Women,  estate  of,  48. 

Mesne  Profits,  169,  170. 

Mills,  55, 62,130, 110, 159,  232,  251,252. 


328 


INDEX. 


Misericordia  Regis,  212,  226,  244,  245, 
271,  301.  See  Exchequer  proceed- 
ings, 1 10— 1 12,  26S— 278. 

Miskenning,  10. 

Mortgage,  58,  296,  299.     See  Tledge. 

Neutrals  iu  War,  1. 
Norwaj'  Merchants,  plunder  of,  67. 
Novel  Disseisin,  writs  in  the  nature  of, 
99,  108,  128,  130,  169,  170,  197,  250. 
Nuncupative  Will,  3'.'.    See  also  p.  115. 

Oath,  Compurgatory,  35,  38. 

Omni  Lege,  proof,  44. 

Omnibus  Legibus,  proof,  41,  306. 

Omni  Modo,  proof,  305. 

Ordeal,  30,  36,  38,  40,  41,  42,  43,  61, 

72,  196,  231,  268,  272,  275,  301,  305, 

306. 
Outlawry,  10,  82,  83,  269. 

Peers,  witness  of,  53. 

Perjury,  34,  199. 

Pledge,  33,  60,  61,  88,  131,  140,  238, 

283,  296,  299. 
Pope,  appeals  to,  21  1,  2  10,  248,  313. 
Possession,  writs  of,  255,  309. 
Prescription  and  Limitation,  70,  169, 

170,  201,  207,  235,  256,  257. 
Primogeniture,  230. 
Probator,  269. 
Prohibition,  241. 
Purchase,  writ  or  action  by,  140,  111, 

167. 
Purpresture,  8. 

Queen,  The,  writs  of,  33,  100,  137. 

Rape,  217. 

Relics,  hirceny  of,  231. 

Replevin,  131. 

Retraxit,  271,  271,  277. 

Right,  writ-  in  nature  of  writ  of,  137, 

116,  19S,  210,  217. 
Riparian  Rights,  62,  63. 


Salt-works,  206. 

Seal,  Edward  the  Confessor's,  39,  54. 
Not  in  general  use  at  time  of  Con- 
quest, 177.     See  Writ  and  Seal. 

Security,  as  to  judgment,  238. 

Seisin,  Livery  of,  70,  150,  294,  296, 
297,  299,  303. 

Sheriffs,  removal  of,  216. 

Ships,  customs  as  to,  102,  103,  201. 

Summons,  4,  213,  261,  273. 

Theft,  260,  306. 
Tithes,  162,  310. 
Treason,  11,  12,  30,  69,  91,  210,  283, 

291,  307. 
Trespass,  suits  in  the  nature  of,  89,93, 

98,  101,  102,  127,  166,  188,  238,  269, 

275,  285. 
Trinoda  Necessitas,  as  to  bridges,  28. 

Ultima  Praesentatio,  215. 

Ventre  inspiciendo,  276. 

Yenue,  change  of,  271. 

Vexillum  in  War,  281. 

Yivus  ei    Mortuus,  24,25,26,  37,  56, 

61,  et  passim. 
Voucher   to    Warrant,   29S.   301,    302, 

304  (the    king  vouched),    305    (the 

king).  306. 

Wager  of  Battle.     See  Battle. 
Wager  of  Law.     See  Compurgation. 
Warranty,  218,  271,275,  298,  301,  302, 

304—306. 
Water.     See  Ordeal. 
Watercourse,  253. 
Will,  nuncupative,  39. 
Witnesses,  IS,  27,  28,  31,  39,  53,  94, 

116,    12ii.   12S,  135,  148,    151,   180, 

182,  184,  L86,  187,  191—196,  199. 
Wreck,  Mi.  1  i:;. 
Writ  and   Seal,  39,   55,  294,  296—301, 

303. 
Wiits,   their  development.     See    the 

Int  reduction. 


G1LBEBT   AND   BI7INQT0N,    PBINTEB8,   ST.    JOHN  S    SQ1    IBE,    LONDON. 


